PBDB Taxon

Basic info	Taxonomic history	Classification	Included Taxa
Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Tapiroidea

Mammalia - Perissodactyla

Taxonomy

Tapiroidea was named by Gill (1872) [also attributed to Burnett 1830]. It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Colbert (2005).

It was assigned to Perissodactyla by Ameghino (1885); to Perissodactyla by Hay (1902); to Ceratomorpha by Cattoi (1957), Sahni and Khare (1971), Sahni and Khare (1973) and Carroll (1988); to Tapiridea by Prothero and Schoch (1989); to Tapiromorpha by Eberle (2005); to Ceratomorpha by Hooker and Dashzeveg (2004), Holbrook et al. (2004), Colbert (2005) and Colbert (2006); to Ceratomorpha by Schoch (1984), Holbrook (1999) and Holanda et al. (2011); and to Perissodactyla by Ranga Rao (1972) and Lofgren et al. (2020).

Subtaxa

Cambaylophus, Deperetellidae, Euryletes, Haagella, Helaletes, Helaletidae, Heptodon, Heptodontidae, Hesperaletes, Tapiridae, Thuliadanta

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1872	Tapiroidea Gill
1885	Tapiroidea Ameghino p. 98
1902	Tapiroidea Hay p. 624
1957	Tapiroidea Cattoi p. 16
1971	Tapiroidea Sahni and Khare p. 45
1972	Tapiroidea Ranga Rao p. 7
1973	Tapiroidea Sahni and Khare p. 37
1984	Tapiroidea Schoch p. 3
1988	Tapiroidea Carroll
1989	Tapiroidea Prothero and Schoch p. 533
1999	Tapiroidea Holbrook p. 346
2004	Tapiroidea Holbrook et al. p. 955
2004	Tapiroidea Hooker and Dashzeveg p. 1379
2005	Tapiroidea Colbert p. 5
2005	Tapiroidea Eberle p. 313
2006	Tapiroidea Colbert p. 698
2011	Tapiroidea Holanda et al. p. 113
2020	Tapiroidea Lofgren et al.

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()
infraorder	Cynodontia	()

Rank	Name	Author
—	Mammaliamorpha
—	Mammaliaformes
class	Mammalia
—	Cladotheria
—	Zatheria
subclass	Tribosphenida	()
subclass	Theria
—	Eutheria	()
—	Placentalia
—	Boreoeutheria
—	Laurasiatheria
—	Scrotifera
—	Euungulata
—	Panperissodactyla
superorder	Perissodactylamorpha
order	Perissodactyla	()
—	Tapiromorpha	(Haeckel 1873)
—	Ceratomorpha	(Wood 1937)
superfamily	Tapiroidea	Gill 1872
superfamily	Tapiroidea	Gill 1872

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. Tapiroidea Gill 1872

show all | hide all

G. †Cambaylophus Kapur and Bajpai 2015

†Cambaylophus vastanensis Kapur and Bajpai 2015

Fm. †Deperetellidae Radinsky 1965

G. †Bahinolophus Tsubamoto 2005

†Bahinolophus birmanicus Pilgrim 1925

Invalid names: Diplolophodon major Young 1937 [synonym], Diplolophodon qufuensis Shi 1989 [synonym], Diplolophodon similis Zdansky 1930 [synonym]

G. †Deperetella Matthew and Granger 1925

†Deperetella cristata Matthew and Granger 1925

†Deperetella depereti Zdansky 1930

†Deperetella dienensis Chow et al. 1974

†Deperetella khaitchinulensis Reshetov 1979

†Deperetella kungeica Tarasov 1968

†Deperetella sichuanensis Xu et al. 1979

Invalid names: Cristidentinus Zdansky 1930 [synonym], Diplolophodon Zdansky 1930 [synonym]

G. †Irdinolophus Dashzeveg and Hooker 1997

†Irdinolophus tuiensis Dashzeveg and Hooker 1997

G. †Euryletes

G. †Haagella Heissig 1978

G. †Helaletes Marsh 1872

†Helaletes intermedius Osborn et al. 1878

Invalid names: Desmatotherium guyotii Scott 1883 [synonym]

†Helaletes medius Qi 1987

†Helaletes mongoliensis Osborn 1923

†Helaletes nanus Marsh 1871

Invalid names: Helaletes boops Marsh 1872 [synonym]

Fm. †Helaletidae Osborn 1892

G. †Desmatotherium Scott 1883

†Desmatotherium mongoliense Osborn 1923

Invalid names: Chasmotheroides Wood 1934 [synonym]

G. †Jhagirilophus Thewissen et al. 2001

†Jhagirilophus chorgalensis Thewissen et al. 2001

G. †Paracolodon Matthew and Granger 1925

†Paracolodon curtus Matthew and Granger 1925

†Paracolodon fissus Matthew and Granger 1925

†Paracolodon inceptus Matthew and Granger 1925

G. †Vastanolophus Smith et al. 2015

†Vastanolophus holbrooki Smith et al. 2015

Invalid names: Chasmotheriinae Viret 1858 [empty], Helaletinae Osborn 1892 [empty]

G. †Heptodon Cope 1882

†Heptodon calciculus Cope 1880

Invalid names: Lophiodon ventorum Cope 1880 [synonym]

†Heptodon minimus Qi 1987

†Heptodon niushanensis Chow and Li 1965

†Heptodon posticus Cope 1882

Invalid names: Heptodon brownorum Seton 1931 [synonym]

†Heptodon tienshanensis Zhai 1978

G. †Hesperaletes Colbert 2006

†Hesperaletes borineyi Colbert 2006

†Hesperaletes walshi Colbert 2006

Fm. Tapiridae Gray 1821 [tapir]

G. †Colodon Marsh 1890

†Colodon cingulatus Douglass 1902

†Colodon copei Osborn and Wortman 1895

†Colodon inceptus Matthew and Granger 1925

†Colodon kayi Hough 1955

†Colodon occidentalis Leidy 1868

Invalid names: Colodon dakotensis Osborn and Wortman 1895 [synonym], Colodon luxatus Marsh 1890 [synonym], Colodon procuspidatus Osborn and Wortman 1895 [synonym], Mesohippus longipes Osborn and Wortman 1894 [synonym]

†Colodon orientalis Borissyak 1918

†Colodon stovalli Wilson and Schiebout 1984

†Colodon woodi Gazin 1956

Invalid names: Mesotapirus Scott and Osborn 1890 [synonym]

G. †Dilophodon Scott 1883

†Dilophodon destitutus Zonneveld and Gunnell 2003

†Dilophodon minusculus Scott 1883

G. †Eotapirus Cerdeno and Ginsburg 1988

†Eotapirus broennimanni Schaub and Hurzeler 1948

†Eotapirus ruber Cerdeno and Ginsburg 1988

G. †Heteraletes Peterson 1931

†Heteraletes leotanus Peterson 1932

G. †Miotapirus Schlaikjer 1937

†Miotapirus harrisonensis Schlaikjer 1937

G. †Nexuotapirus Albright 1998

†Nexuotapirus marslandensis Schoch 1984

†Nexuotapirus robustus Sinclair 1901

G. †Palaeotapirus Filhol 1888

†Palaeotapirus yagii Matsumoto 1921

G. †Paratapirus Depéret and Douxami 1902

†Paratapirus helvetius Meyer 1867

†Paratapirus intermedius Filhol 1885

G. †Plesiocolopirus Schoch 1989

†Plesiocolopirus grangeri Tokunaga 1933

†Plesiocolopirus hancocki Radinsky 1963

†Plesiocolopirus kushiroensis Tomida 1983

G. †Plesiotapirus Qiu et al. 1991

†Plesiotapirus yagii Qiu et al. 1991

G. †Protapirus Filhol 1877

†Protapirus aginensis Richard 1938

†Protapirus bavaricus Oettingen-Spielberg 1952

†Protapirus cetinensis Cerdeno and Ginsburg 1988

†Protapirus douvillei Filhol 1885

†Protapirus gromovae Biryukov 1972

†Protapirus obliquidens Wortman and Earle 1893

†Protapirus priscus Filhol 1874

†Protapirus simplex Wortman and Earle 1893

Invalid names: Protapirus validus Hatcher 1896 [synonym], Tanyops undans Marsh 1894 [synonym]

Invalid names: Tanyops Marsh 1894 [synonym]

G. †Tapiravus Marsh 1877

†Tapiravus validus Marsh 1871

Invalid names: Tapiravus rarus Marsh 1877 [nomen dubium]

G. Tapirella Palmer 1903

Invalid names: Elasmognathus Gill 1865 [replaced]

Subfm. Tapirinae Burnett 1830

Invalid names: Miotapirini Schoch 1984 [empty], Tapiravini Schoch 1984 [empty]

G. †Tapiriscus Kretzoi 1951

†Tapiriscus pannonicus Kretzoi 1951

G. Tapirus Brisson 1762 [tapir]

Subg. †Tapirus (Helicotapirus) Hulbert 2010

†Tapirus (Helicotapirus) haysii Leidy 1860

Invalid names: Tapirus copei Simpson 1945 [synonym]

†Tapirus (Helicotapirus) lundeliusi Hulbert 2010

†Tapirus (Helicotapirus) veroensis Sellards 1918

Invalid names: Tapirus excelsus Simpson 1945 [synonym], Tapirus tennesseae Hay 1920 [synonym]

Invalid names: Tapirus veroensis sellardsi Simpson 1929 [invalid subgroup]

Subg. †Tapirus (Megatapirus) Matthew and Granger 1923

†Tapirus (Megatapirus) augustus Matthew and Granger 1923

Subg. †Tapirus (Tapiralum) Rusconi 1934

†Tapirus (Tapiralum) greslebini Rusconi 1934

†Tapirus antiquus Kaup 1833

†Tapirus arvernensis Croizet and Jobert 1828

Tapirus bairdii Gill 1865 [Baird's tapir]

†Tapirus balkanicus Spassov and Ginsburg 1999

†Tapirus californicus Merriam 1912

†Tapirus cristatellus Winge 1906

†Tapirus greslebini Rusconi 1934

Tapirus indicus Desmarest 1819 [Malayan tapir]

†Tapirus johnsoni Schultz et al. 1975

Tapirus kabomani Cozzuol et al. 2013 [kabomani tapir]

†Tapirus merriami Frick 1921

†Tapirus mesopotamicus Ferrero and Noriega 2007

†Tapirus oliverasi Ubilla 1983 [tapir]

Tapirus pinchaque Roulin 1829 [mountain tapir]

†Tapirus polkensis Olsen 1960

†Tapirus priscus Kaup 1833

†Tapirus rioplatensis Cattoi 1957

†Tapirus rondoniensis Holanda et al. 2011

†Tapirus sanyuanensis Huang and Fang 1991

†Tapirus simpsoni Schultz et al. 1975

†Tapirus sinensis Owen 1870

†Tapirus tarijensis Ameghino 1902

Tapirus terrestris Linnaeus 1758 [Brazilian tapir]

Tapirus terrestris aenigmaticus Gray 1872

Invalid names: Tapirus ecuadorensis Gray 1872 [synonym]

Tapirus terrestris colombianus Hershkovitz 1954

Tapirus terrestris spegazzinii Ameghino 1909

Invalid names: Tapirus anulipes Hermann 1924 [synonym]

Tapirus terrestris terrestris Linnaeus 1758

Invalid names: Hydrochaerus tapir Erxleben 1777 [synonym], Tapir americanus Gmelin 1788 [synonym], Tapir anta Zimmermann 1780 [synonym], Tapir maypuri Roulin 1829 [synonym], Tapir suillus Blumenbach 1799 [synonym], Tapirus americanus fossilis Leidy 1848 [nomen oblitum], Tapirus laurillardi Gray 1867 [synonym], Tapirus rufus Fischer 1814 [synonym], Tapirus sabatyra Liais 1872 [synonym], Tapirus tapirus Merriam 1895 [synonym]

†Tapirus webbi Hulbert 2005 [tapir]

Invalid names: Acrocodia Goldman 1913 [synonym], Cinchacus Gray 1873 [synonym], Pinchacus Hershkovitz 1954 [synonym], Rhinochoerus Wagler 1830 [synonym], Syspotamus Billberg 1827 [synonym], Tapir Blumenbach 1799 [synonym], Tapyra Liais 1872 [synonym]

G. †Teleolophus Matthew and Granger 1925

†Teleolophus danjiangensis Tong and Lei 1984

†Teleolophus daviesi Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg 1958

†Teleolophus magnus Radinsky 1965

†Teleolophus medius Matthew and Granger 1925

Invalid names: Deperetella ferganica Belyaeva 1962 [synonym], Teleolophus beliajevi Biryukov 1974 [synonym]

†Teleolophus primarius Qi 1987

†Teleolophus rectus Qi 1987

†Teleolophus shandongensis Chow and Qi 1982

†Teleolophus sichuanensis Xu et al. 1979

†Teleolophus xui Tong and Lei 1984

†Teleolophus zaisanicus Gabunia 1984

Invalid names: Pachylophus Tong and Lei 1984 [synonym]

G. †Thuliadanta Eberle 2005

†Thuliadanta mayri Eberle 2005

Invalid names: Heptodontidae Holbrook 1999 [empty]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialsubc

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

ground dwellingsuperf

Diet:

browsersuperf

Reproduction:

viviparoussubc

Created:

2005-08-31 15:03:27

Modified:

2005-08-31 17:03:27

Source: superf = superfamily, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Carroll 1988, Lillegraven 1979, Ji et al. 2002, Hendy et al. 2009, Colbert and Schoch 1998

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Lysitean to the top of the Holocene or 55.80000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 50.3 Ma

Collections (662 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Kyrgyzstan (Osh)	Deperetella ferganica (174761) Teleolophus medius (28490)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	India (Gujarat)	Vastanolophus holbrooki, Cambaylophus vastanensis (55494)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Pakistan	Tapiroidea indet. (94599)
Arshantan	56.0 - 37.71	China (Nei Mongol)	Tapiroidea indet. (72204)
Arshantan	56.0 - 37.71	Kazakhstan	Helaletes sp., Helaletidae indet. (31009)
Irdinmanhan	56.0 - 37.71	China (Nei Mongol)	Desmatotherium mongoliense (109067)
Irdinmanhan	56.0 - 37.71	Mongolia	Deperetellidae indet., Teleolophus sp. (182485)
Irdinmanhan	56.0 - 37.71	Kazakhstan	Teleolophus beliajevi (53657)
Sharamurunian	56.0 - 37.71	China (Shanxi)	Diplolophodon major (42196) Diplolophodon similis, Cristidentinus depereti (42197)
Sharamurunian	56.0 - 37.71	China (Henan)	Diplolophodon similis (42162) Diplolophodon similis, Cristidentinus depereti (41120)
Sharamurunian	56.0 - 37.71	Mongolia	Teleolophus sp. (182486)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	China (shaanxi)	Deperetella sp. (42687)
Lostcabinian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Heptodon posticus (15945 15998 16078) Heptodon posticus, Heptodon ventorum (15903 15915 15917 15930)
Lysitean - Lostcabinian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Heptodon sp. (15451)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (New Mexico)	Homogalax protapirinus (15440)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Canada (British Columbia)	Heptodon sp. (161203)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Colorado)	Heptodon calciculus (15302 15325 15338 15393 15395 15426) Heptodon posticus (15410 15413) Heptodon sp. (15220 15221 15225 15270 15272 15277 15350 15372 15407 15649) Heptodon sp., Heptodon calciculus (15293)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Canada (Nunavut)	Thuliadanta mayri (68720)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Canada (Northwest Territories)	Hyrachyus sp. (15583)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Helaletes nanus, Heptodon posticus, Heptodon ventorum (15942) Helaletes sp. (15841) Helaletidae indet. (15575 15577 15578) Heptodon brownorum (15904 15905 15906 15910 15996) Heptodon calciculus (15454 15548 15551 15553 15554 15557 15558 15560 15565 15576 15852 15934 15935 15964 46692 46699 46700 46703 46706 46711 46715 46746 46810 46811 46849 186937 186940 186951) Heptodon calciculus, Helaletidae indet. (15552) Heptodon calciculus, Heptodon posticus (15486 15555 15556 15839) Heptodon posticus (15566 15567) Heptodon posticus, Heptodon ventorum (15662) Heptodon sp. (15597 15642 15689 15842 15902 15931 15937 15958) Heptodon sp., Helaletidae indet. (15559) Heptodon sp., Heptodon calciculus, Heptodon posticus (15564) Heptodon ventorum (15479 15661 15710 15963)