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Tapir

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A South American tapir walking along the Cristalino River in the Southern Amazon, Brazil.

Meet the Tapir

Tapirs are large, friendly animals that look a bit like pigs but have a special nose called a proboscis. This nose helps them grab leaves and branches to eat. They live in the jungles and forests of Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Four Kinds of Tapirs

There are four main types of tapirs. They are the South American tapir, the Malayan tapir, Baird's tapir, and the mountain tapir. Each type lives in different places and looks a little different, but they all have that special nose!

Where They Live

Tapirs love to be near water. They often swim and play in rivers and lakes. This helps them stay cool and find food. They eat fruits, berries, and leaves, using their noses to sniff the ground for tasty treats.

Fun Facts

  • Tapirs have strong legs with hooves, which help them walk on soft, muddy ground.
  • Baby tapirs are born with striped and spotted coats to help them hide.
  • Tapirs can live for about 25 to 30 years.

Images

Four different kinds of tapirs: South American, mountain, Malayan, and Baird’s tapir.
A Baird's tapir, a large mammal native to Central America, seen in the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica.
A mountain tapir, a large, furry animal with a short trunk, living in the Andes mountains.
A Malayan Tapir, a large mammal with a distinct snout, at the Louisville Zoo.
A tapir displaying a flehmen response, a natural behavior used to sense pheromones in its environment.

Related articles

Proboscis
Southeast Asia
Baird's tapir

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Tapir, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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