Diet Composition of the Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii): A Comprehensive Review

Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) plays an important ecological role in Mesoamerican forests as a browser and seed disperser, earning it the nickname of “gardener of the forest”. However, knowledge of its diet composition remains scattered. We reviewed and analysed the available literature on the composition of Baird’s tapir diet throughout its geographic distribution, compiling data from 27 studies. Baird’s tapir was found to consume 515 plant taxa belonging to 410 genera and 123 families. Five types of dietary components have been identified: fibre (stems), leaves, fruit, bark, and flowers. The influence of seasonality on the tapir diet is unclear due to the underestimation of some components, notably fruits. We identified limitations in the techniques used to determine diet components and study designs. Future research should focus on developing techniques to improve the quantification of dietary components. Additionally, the direct and indirect effects of the Baird’s tapir’s diet and plant consumption on ecosystem dynamics should be investigated to clearly understand the functional role of this species.