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Animal Themes
Endangered Animals Theme Unit
Mammals
 Tapirs

Tapirs
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   9.58

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    bulky, skillful, striking, uncertain, unwanted, despite, eyesight, excessive, hence, lowland, species, essence, flashy, rubbery, running, destruction
     content words:    Southeast Asia, Central American, South Americas

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Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Tapires

Tapirs   
1     Tapirs are like the offspring of pigs and elephants. Indeed, their bulky bodies, short legs, and short tails remind us of pigs, and their flexible, rubbery trunks are reminiscent of elephants. But, despite these similarities, tapirs are not related to either pigs or elephants. Rhinoceros are actually their closest relatives.
 
2     Tapirs are shy, solitary animals, dwelling in forests and grasslands. They never stray far from water. Hence, whenever they feel threatened, they flee to the nearest river, lake, or swamp for safety. Tapirs measure up to 8 feet long, stand nearly 3 feet tall, and weigh almost 800 pounds. Though slightly heavy-built, tapirs are surprisingly good athletes. They are excellent swimmers and divers, swift runners, and skillful climbers. Tapirs have poor eyesight, but acute senses of hearing and smell. They use their proboscises (trunks) to locate and pick up food (leaves, fruits, water plants, or other vegetation.)
 
3     There are four species of tapirs on Earth. Except for the Malayan tapir that lives in Southeast Asia, the other three -- the lowland or Brazilian tapir, the mountain tapir, and the Baird's or Central American tapir-- take up residence in Central and South Americas.

Paragraphs 4 to 6:
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