South American Tapir
by Amy E Fraser
Title
South American Tapir
Artist
Amy E Fraser
Medium
Painting - Oil Pastel On Paper
Description
The South American Tapir by Amy E. Fraser. This is an expressive tapir portrait in shades of black, white, gray and brown with a cute happy face and smiling brown eyes complimented with an Aruba blue background.
The South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), also commonly called the Brazilian tapir, the Amazonian tapir, the maned tapir, the lowland tapir, in Portuguese anta, and in mixed Quechua and Spanish sachavaca (literally "bushcow"), is one of the four widely recognized species in the tapir family, along with the mountain tapir, the Malayan tapir, and the Baird's tapir. It is the largest surviving native terrestrial mammal in the Amazon. Belonging to the same family as rhinoceros, tapir are odd toed ungulates, with four toes at the front and three at the back. These large mammals live in the forests of South America. What sets them apart is their long nose. Tapirs have a fleshy, prehensile trunk, which can be used to grab leaves or act as a snorkel if they are swimming. The South American Tapir have a muscular crest on top of their head on which is a mane that stretches between their forehead and shoulders. The Lowland tapir can be identified by its large stiff mane or crest from forehead to shoulder, which the other three species of tapirs do not have. This species is colored dark brown without any obvious markings, although they have paler cheeks, ear tips and throats. All baby tapirs are dark brown with pale stripes and spots that provide good camouflage on the forest floor. The South American tapir can attain a body length of 5.9 to 8.2 feet with a 2 to 3.9 inch short stubby tail and an average weight around 496 pounds. It stands somewhere between 30 to 43 inches at the shoulder. The size of a small pony, and when running resemble the galloping of a horse. They are also known for being strong swimmers, with the ability to cross rivers and take to the water to escape predators. They have large teeth, perfect for grinding up plants and seeds, and their long prehensile snout is used to reach for leaves and fruits. Lowland tapirs are primarily solitary and shy, grazing and foraging at night and resting or hiding during the day. Tapirs make shrill whistles and clicks, shrieking to express pain and snorting to express irritation. They eat fruits and other vegetation. It has a life span of approximately 25 to 30 years.
Amy E. Fraser’s Oil Pastel Animal Portrait series is an impassioned tribute to the beauty and magic of our beloved Animal Kingdom. Fun, gestural and energetic, these vibrant animals are painted in a stylized realism that is imbued with distinctive character and personality.
The South American Tapir by Amy E. Fraser. Animal Portrait Paintings created from the artist’s intense connection to and love for all creatures great and small. Oil Pastel on archival paper. All images copyright Amy E. Fraser. All rights reserved.
Uploaded
May 30th, 2022
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