1" Tapir Tapirus Veroensis Fossil Tooth Pleistocene Age Withlacoochee River FL Display

Location: Withlacoochee River, Florida, United States

Weight: 0.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 1 Inch Long, 0.6 Inches Wide, 0.5 Inches Thick

Comes with a Free Display.

The Item pictured is the one you will receive.

Pleistocene Age 1 - 1.7 Million Years old.

The Vero tapir (Tapirus veroensis) was an extinct species of tapir that roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch, commonly known as the Ice Age. Living between roughly 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago, this large herbivore shared its environment with a variety of megafauna. The Vero tapir likely inhabited forests, wetlands, and river valleys, feeding on soft vegetation, leaves, and fruits. Its presence across the continent reflects the rich and diverse ecosystems of Pleistocene North America, which supported a wide range of prehistoric mammals.

Fossil evidence of Tapirus veroensis has been discovered in various locations across the southeastern United States, including Florida. One notable site for such discoveries is the Withlacoochee River region in Florida. During the Ice Age, Florida's landscape differed considerably from its modern appearance. Lower sea levels exposed vast areas of the continental shelf, creating extensive coastal plains and altering river systems. The Withlacoochee River, like other waterways in the region, would have been part of a dynamic ecosystem supporting a diverse array of prehistoric animals, including the Vero tapir.

The Vero tapir was a large, herbivorous mammal, likely resembling modern tapirs in both appearance and behavior, with a short, prehensile snout adapted for grasping leaves and fruits. Its diet primarily consisted of soft vegetation, including foliage and fruits, which were abundant in the subtropical and temperate landscapes of Ice Age Florida. Fossil evidence of Tapirus veroensis in the Withlacoochee River region suggests that this area provided an ideal habitat, offering access to fresh water and plentiful food resources for these ancient animals during the Pleistocene. The extinction of the Vero tapir, along with many other North American megafauna, is generally attributed to a combination of climatic changes at the end of the Ice Age and hunting pressures from early human populations.