Tapirus californicus, the California tapir, is an extinct species of tapir that inhabited North America during the Pleistocene. It became extinct about 13,000 years ago.[1]
Like other perissodactyls, tapirs originated in North America and lived on the North American continent for most of the Cenozoic Era. Fossils of ancient tapirs in North America can be dated back to 50 million-year-old Eocene rocks on Ellesmere Island, Canada, which was then a temperate climate.[2] By 13 million years ago, tapirs very much like extant tapirs existed in Southern California.[3]
During the Pleistocene epoch, there were at least four species of tapir on the North American continent. Along with Tapirus californicus, Tapirus merriami was found in California and Arizona, Tapirus veroensis was found in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, and Tapirus copei was found from Pennsylvania to Florida.[4] By the end of the Pleistocene around 12,000 years ago, all tapirs disappeared from North America, which coincided with the extinctions of many other groups of megafauna in the Americas.
Tapirus californicus, like most extant tapirs, was believed to have been a largely solitary animal, and inhabited primarily the coastal regions of Southern California (although one specimen has been found in Oregon), preferring forested environments and possibly grasslands near rivers and lakes.[1] Its maximum weight was about 225 kg (496 lb) and the estimated body length was 140 cm (4.6 ft), although no known complete fossil skeletal remains have been collected. Study of the skull shows T. californicus had shortened nasal bones to allow for attachment of strong muscles and ligaments to form a fleshy, prehensile snout like all extant tapirs.[3] It was herbivorous, and its diet is believed to have consisted of shrubs, leaves, aquatic plants, fruits, and seeds. T. californicus was most likely prey to such predators as smilodon, dire wolves, American lions and paleo-Indians.[citation needed]
A number of fossils of T. californicus have been collected at the La Brea Tar Pits in the modern urban center of Los Angeles. The cluster of tar pits have trapped and preserved many specimens of Pleistocene-era fauna.[5]
Taxonomy
There are multiple pieces of evidence which indicate most, if not all, of the 5 accepted Pleistocene tapir species found in North America (T. californicus, T. haysii (T. copei), T. lundeliusi, T. merriami, T. veroensis) may actually belong to the same species. T. californicus was considered to be a subspecies of T. haysii by Merriam,[6]T. californicus and T. veroensis are nearly impossible to distinguish morphologically and occupy the same time frame,[7] being separated only by location, and T. haysii, T. veroensis, and T. lundeliusi are already considered so closely related that they occupy the same subgenus (Helicotapirus).[8] Additionally, few details distinguish T. haysii and T. veroensis except size, date, and wear of teeth;[9] and the intermediate sizes overlap greatly with many specimens originally assigned to one species, then later switched over to another.[9]
References
^ ab. 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-08-20.
^Eberle, J. 2005. A new "tapir" from Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada - Implications for northern high latitude palaeobiogeography and tapir palaeobiology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 277(4): 311-322.
^ abColbert, M. and R. Schoch 1998. Tapiroidea and other moropomorphs. In: C. Janis, K. Scott, L. Jacobs, (eds) Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Volume I: Terrestrial carnivores, ungulates, and ungulate like mammals. Cambridge University Press.
^Björn Kurtén, Elaine Anderson: Pleistocene mammals of North America, pp 293-294. Columbia University Press, 1980 ISBN0231037333
^Return to the Ice Age: The La Brea Exploration Guide 2011-11-11 at the Wayback Machine
^"Tapirus haysii californicus". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^Jefferson, George T. (August 14, 1989). "Late Cenozoic Tapirs (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) of Western North America" (PDF). Contributions in Science (406).
^Hulbert, Richard Jr. (September 30, 2010). "A new early Pleistocene tapir (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) from Florida, with a review of Blancan tapirs from the state" (PDF). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 49 (3): 67–126.
^ ab"Tapirus haysii". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
January 09, 2023
tapirus, californicus, california, tapir, extinct, species, tapir, that, inhabited, north, america, during, pleistocene, became, extinct, about, years, temporal, range, middle, late, pleistocene, preꞒ, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordat. Tapirus californicus the California tapir is an extinct species of tapir that inhabited North America during the Pleistocene It became extinct about 13 000 years ago 1 Tapirus californicusTemporal range middle late Pleistocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder PerissodactylaFamily TapiridaeGenus TapirusSpecies T californicusBinomial name Tapirus californicus Merriam 1912 SynonymsTapirus haysii californicusLike other perissodactyls tapirs originated in North America and lived on the North American continent for most of the Cenozoic Era Fossils of ancient tapirs in North America can be dated back to 50 million year old Eocene rocks on Ellesmere Island Canada which was then a temperate climate 2 By 13 million years ago tapirs very much like extant tapirs existed in Southern California 3 During the Pleistocene epoch there were at least four species of tapir on the North American continent Along with Tapirus californicus Tapirus merriami was found in California and Arizona Tapirus veroensis was found in Florida Georgia Kansas Missouri and Tennessee and Tapirus copei was found from Pennsylvania to Florida 4 By the end of the Pleistocene around 12 000 years ago all tapirs disappeared from North America which coincided with the extinctions of many other groups of megafauna in the Americas Tapirus californicus like most extant tapirs was believed to have been a largely solitary animal and inhabited primarily the coastal regions of Southern California although one specimen has been found in Oregon preferring forested environments and possibly grasslands near rivers and lakes 1 Its maximum weight was about 225 kg 496 lb and the estimated body length was 140 cm 4 6 ft although no known complete fossil skeletal remains have been collected Study of the skull shows T californicus had shortened nasal bones to allow for attachment of strong muscles and ligaments to form a fleshy prehensile snout like all extant tapirs 3 It was herbivorous and its diet is believed to have consisted of shrubs leaves aquatic plants fruits and seeds T californicus was most likely prey to such predators as smilodon dire wolves American lions and paleo Indians citation needed A number of fossils of T californicus have been collected at the La Brea Tar Pits in the modern urban center of Los Angeles The cluster of tar pits have trapped and preserved many specimens of Pleistocene era fauna 5 Taxonomy EditThere are multiple pieces of evidence which indicate most if not all of the 5 accepted Pleistocene tapir species found in North America T californicus T haysii T copei T lundeliusi T merriami T veroensis may actually belong to the same species T californicus was considered to be a subspecies of T haysii by Merriam 6 T californicus and T veroensis are nearly impossible to distinguish morphologically and occupy the same time frame 7 being separated only by location and T haysii T veroensis and T lundeliusi are already considered so closely related that they occupy the same subgenus Helicotapirus 8 Additionally few details distinguish T haysii and T veroensis except size date and wear of teeth 9 and the intermediate sizes overlap greatly with many specimens originally assigned to one species then later switched over to another 9 References Edit a b San Diego Zoo California Tapir Tapirus californicus 2009 Archived from the original on 2011 08 20 Eberle J 2005 A new tapir from Ellesmere Island Arctic Canada Implications for northern high latitude palaeobiogeography and tapir palaeobiology Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 277 4 311 322 a b Colbert M and R Schoch 1998 Tapiroidea and other moropomorphs In C Janis K Scott L Jacobs eds Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America Volume I Terrestrial carnivores ungulates and ungulate like mammals Cambridge University Press Bjorn Kurten Elaine Anderson Pleistocene mammals of North America pp 293 294 Columbia University Press 1980 ISBN 0231037333 Return to the Ice Age The La Brea Exploration Guide Archived 2011 11 11 at the Wayback Machine Tapirus haysii californicus Retrieved 17 December 2021 Jefferson George T August 14 1989 Late Cenozoic Tapirs Mammalia Perissodactyla of Western North America PDF Contributions in Science 406 Hulbert Richard Jr September 30 2010 A new early Pleistocene tapir Mammalia Perissodactyla from Florida with a review of Blancan tapirs from the state PDF Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 49 3 67 126 a b Tapirus haysii Florida Museum of Natural History Retrieved 12 March 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tapirus californicus amp oldid 1101875294, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
