What is Tapir?
{{Taxobox | name = Tapir | image = Tapirus_terrestris.jpg | image_caption = [[Brazilian tapir]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Perissodactyla]] | familia = '''Tapiridae''' | familia_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1821 | genus = '''''Tapirus''''' | genus_authority = Brünnich, 1772}} '''Tapirs''' are [[odd-toed ungulate]]s form the family '''Tapiridae'''. The only living [[genus]] is '''''Tapirus'''''. The first tapirids appeared in the [[Eocene]] [[epoch (geology)|epoch]], and by the [[Oligocene]] they looked similar to the present-day [[species]]. For much of their history, tapirs were spread across the [[Northern Hemisphere]] [[extinct]] as recently as 10,000 years ago.<ref>Palmer D. (ed) 1999. ''The Marshall illustrated encyclopedia of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals''. London: Marshall Editions, p. 261. {{ISBN|1-84028-152-9}}</ref> == Taxonomy == * Family '''Tapiridae''' ** [[Brazilian tapir]] or Lowland tapir (''Tapirus terrestris'') ** [[Mountain Tapir]] (''Tapirus pinchaque'') ** [[Baird's tapir]] (''Tapirus bairdii'') ** [[Malayan tapir]] (''Tapirus indicus'') **[[Kabomani tapir]] (''Tapirus kabomani'') == Appearance == Tapirs are about 2 [[metre|m]] / 7 [[Foot (unit of length)|ft]] long and about 1 meter / 3&nbsp;ft high. They weigh between 150 - 300 [[kilogram|kg]] / 330 - 700 [[Pound (mass)|lb]]. They have a rounded body and very short stubby tails. Tapirs have hoofed [[toe]]s, with four toes on the front feet and three toes on the hind feet. The Tapir's upper lip and nose have formed a short [[trunk]], and they have a long tongue. Tapirs have a short [[fur]], with colors that are reddish-brown to grey to nearly black. Exceptions are the Mountain Tapir and the Asian Tapir. The Mountain Tapir has longer wooly fur. The Asian Tapir has a black front part and legs, and a white middle part and back. All baby tapirs have brown fur, with lighter stripes and dots for [[camouflage]]. Tapirs cannot [[sight|see]] very well, but they hav