Abstract:
A captive adult male Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdil1 was offereathe foliage
of 381 species of plants native to tapir habitat in Guanacaste Provo
ince, Costa Rica. It absolutely rejected 55 percent, unambiguously accepted
29 percent, and ambigu osly treated the remaining 16 percent.
While it did consume many species of foliage, it certainly was not
indiscriminate in food choice. Sets of closely related species contained
both strongly rejected and eagerly eaten species. Of 55 species of tree
and shrub legumes, the foliage of only one (Pterocarpus rohrii) was
eaten, while many species of herbaceous legumes (vines and self-supporting
plants) were eaten. The foliage of many species of fast-growing early
succession trees was eaten but that of many other species rejected (e. g.,
Trema micrantha, Bursera simaruba, Carica papaya). Some very aromatic
plants were eaten eagerly, but spiny plants and hot fruits (Capsicum)
were rejected. Foliage of garden plants was generally much more acceptable
than that of wild closely related species. Even the foliage of
favored species was eaten in quantities per meal far less than the stomach
capacity of the tapir, and once "full" of one favored species, the
tapir would then eat its fill of other favored species. The tapir's most
eagerly sought foods were banana fruits (Musa sapientum) and the fruit
pulp (endocarp) of guapinol (Hymenaea courbari/).
