Tapir Found at the Gray Fossil Site

The tapir remains from the site are smaller than the living Baird's tapir, and likely represent the late Miocene to early Pliocene dwarf species Tapiravus cf. T. polkensis.

Progress on the skull as of 12/05/03. Jeff Supplee (another volunteer) has been diligently working on this specimen since early November.

It has been suggested that the species (polkensis) should be placed within the genus Tapirus, but diagnostic material was lacking (Hulbert, personal communication). However, with the vast material now being recovered from the Gray Site, this question should be easily resolved.

Modern tapirs can live in almost any environment, but typically stay close to permanent water to feed, and near forested areas for shelter. Living members of the genus Tapirus do not herd, but it is possible that some of the extinct taxa (including ours) may have exhibited herding tendencies. If so, this could explain the large concentration of tapirs found at Gray.

On 7/08/03 Lynn (volunteer) discovers a nearly complete tapir skull.

The exposed skull prior to removal.