Caribbean tapir (SciiFii)

The Caribbean tapir (Tapirus imitator) is a species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests and wetlands across Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Haiti to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the Caribbean tapir is the vero tapir (Tapirus veroensis). The Caribbean tapir has a distinctive cream-colored marking on its cheeks, throat, and tips of its ears, with a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. The rest of its hair is dark brown or grayish brown. The Caribbean tapir has a low, erect crest running from the crown down the back of the neck. Caribbean tapirs average 1.8 to 2.5 meters (5.9 to 8.2 feet) with a 5 to 10 centimeters (2.0 to 3.9 inch) short stubby tail and an average weight around 225 kilograms (496 lbs). Adult weight has been reported ranging from 150 to 320 kilograms (330 to 710 lbs). It stands somewhere between 77 to 108 centimeters (30 to 43 inches) at the shoulder. The Caribbean tapir is a herbivore. Using its mobile nose, it primarily feeds on leaves, buds, shoots, and small branches it tears from trees, fruit, grasses, and aquatic plants. It also feeds on the vast majority of seeds found in the rainforests and wetlands. The Caribbean tapir is an excellent swimmer and diver, but also moves quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain. Unlike other tapir species, the Caribbean tapir is tolerant to saltwater and it is thus able to drink seawater without any ill effects and is capable of dispersing across the Caribbean Islands. It has a lifespan of approximately 25 to 30 years. In the wild, its main predators are large, predatory crocodilians. The Caribbean tapir is known to run to water when scared to take cover. The Caribbean tapir mates in April, May, or June, reaching sexual maturity in the third year of life. Females go through a gestation period of 13 months (390–395 days) and will typically have one or two offspring every two years. A newborn Caribbean tapir weighs about 15 pounds (6.8 kilos) and will be weaned in about six months. The conservation status of the Caribbean tapir is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Caribbean tapir is a protected species and the population trend is increasing.