Extinct California Tapir (Tapirus californicus) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Careful study of fossil bone or tooth anatomy yields much
exact information about placement and strength of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves,
and blood vessels. In rare cases, skin and hair impressions or actual skin or hair remains.
Body weight is more difficult to gauge because fat leaves no impression on the skeleton.

General Description

• A stout-bodied herbivore with short legs, a large tapered head with a short muscular proboscis.
• Four toes on the front limbs, three on the hindlimbs.

Teeth

• Molar teeth have two main cusps joined by enamel ridges (bilophodont); shape changed only slightly over millions of years.
• Dental formula same as living tapir: Six upper-jaw and six lower incisiors; two canines upper and two lower; eight premolars upper, six lower; six molars upper and six molars lower (total 42 teeth).

Pelage

• Unknown

• No evidence to date

• Nasal bones in skull are shortened to allow for attachment of muscles and ligaments of a fleshy snout (proboscis) (Colbert and Schoch 1998)

Colbert & Schoch (1998)