Reappraisal of the genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae): systematics and phylogenetic affinities of the South American tapirs

Abstract

The record of the genus Tapirus in South America is associated with the faunistic events of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI). The taxon is considered an immigrant of Holarctic origin. Although remains are scarce and incomplete during the Pleistocene, an analysis of these materials allowed us to consider valid seven fossil species : Tapirus tarijensis, T. cristatellus, T. greslebini, T. rioplatensis, T. oliverasi, T. mesopotamicus, and T. rondoniensis. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out in order to elucidate the relationships of the American fossil and extant species. Our result is consistent with a paraphyletic hypothesis for South American tapirs and suggests that a second dispersal event would have occurred from South America to North America, of a form closely related to T. cristatellus, resulting in the derived forms of North America.