Brazilian Tapir

Description:

A tapir is a large herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile snout. Most tapirs are about 2 m (7 ft) long, stand about 1 m (3 ft) high at the shoulder, and weigh between 150 and 300 kg (330 and 700 lb). It is dark brown, paler in the face, and has a low, erect crest running from the crown down the back of the neck. The round, dark ears have distinctive white edges.

Habitat:

Melbourne Zoo. In the wild, Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia.

Notes:

The South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), Brazilian tapir (from the Tupi tapi'ira), lowland tapir or (in Portuguese) anta, is one of five species in the tapir family. Lowland tapirs are excellent swimmers and divers, but also move quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain. They have a life span of approximately 25 to 30 years. They are known to run to water when scared to take cover.