Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com/plants-and-animals/how-tapir-scratches-itch
Technology
Space
The Brain
Physics
Chemistry
8.3K 173
Print
I don't even know where to start with this one.
Facebook
There are four species of Tapir, all of which are endangered. A herbivorous mammal that can Twitter
be found in the grasslands of Central and Southern America, across the Andes and in Email
Southeast Asia, the tapir is a quirky-looking creature with a hog-like body and short gripping
Gmail
proboscis, or trunk.
Favorites
Although interesting-looking in general, it is often known in mainstream media for strutting More... (293)
about with an impressively large penis – and one it isn't afraid to wave around.
Powered by AddThis
Its prehensile penis (meaning it can grip with it) is used to keep hold of a female during
copulation to ensure successful insemination.
POPULAR POSTS
But apparently, the tapir has found another unusual use for its lengthy member:
The Science Of ‘Hangry’, Or
Why Some People Get
Grumpy When They’re
Hungry
health and medicine
1 of 4
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/how-tapir-scratches-itch
New
plantsEye Drops Can
and animals
Surgeons Successfully
Graft Hand Onto Patient's
Leg And Keep It Alive For A
Month
health and medicine
IFLScience
WEEK IN
SCIENCE
Newsletter
Sign up
I mean, how else would you scratch an itch if you didn't have long enough arms? Ingenious,
I say.
If you're interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures, check out 6 Things
You Didn't Know About Tapirs.
2 of 4
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/how-tapir-scratches-itch
3 of 4
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/how-tapir-scratches-itch
get the newsletter Sign up Like 21m Follow 166K followers Follow 419k
home
contact
Advertising
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
4 of 4