Tapirs - Overview

Baird's tapir. Photo by Eric Kilby.

Order: 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.

Table of Contents

Tapirs and Humans

Browse More Factsheets

We have a range of over 200 fact sheets on lots of species and environmental issues. Explore them all by clicking the button below.

See All Factsheets

Our Supporters