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 analyzed the available literature of diet composition of Baird’s tapir throughout its geographic distribution. We compiled evidence from 25 studies related to these topics. Baird’s tapir was found to consume 511 plant taxa belonging to 407 genera and 122 families. Five types of dietary components have been identified: fibre (stems), leaf, fruit, bark and flowers. The influence of seasonality on the tapir’s diet is unclear due to the underestimation of some components (fruit). We identified limitations in the techniques used to determine diet components and study designs. Future research should focus on develop novel techniques to improve the quantification of dietary components. Additionally, the direct and indirect effects of Baird’s tapir’s diet and plant consumption on ecosystem dynamics should be investigated to clearly understand the functional role of this species.