About the size of a shetland pony, the tapir is a rather odd looking animal. Not only has it a long and flexible snout like a short trunk, but it has four toes on each of its fore feet and only three toes on the hind feet.

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Overview

Picture of a tapirOrder: Perissodactyla

Family: Tapiridae

IUCN Status: Endangered

Population trend: Decreasing

Description: Long, flexible snout, four toes on each fore foot, three toes on each hind foot. The adult is blackish-brown in colour with whitish face, chest and throat.

Habitat: Swampy or hill forests.

Distribution: Central America.

Length: 160cm.

Height: (At shoulder) 90cm.

Weight: Approx. 270kg.

Diet: Vegetation.

 

Read More: Introduction

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