The brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is also known as the South American tapir or the lowland tapir and is found in parts of South America. It is one of the four species of tapir. The other species of tapir are the Malayan tapir, the mountain tapir and the baird's tapir.
Range
They are found in the east of the Andes and can be seen often near water in the Amazon rainforest and its river basin. It is found in Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and the Guianas.
Physical features
The brazilian tapir can measure upto 8 feet with a shoulder height of 3 feet. They can weigh a massive 270 kilograms and are termed as the largest land wild animal of South America. Their body color is brown with a lighter brown on the face. They have brown, round ears which have white outlines. They have a bushy tail which is about 3 inches.
Behavior
The brazilian tapir loves swimming and diving. Their natural predators in the water are the black caiman and the orinoco crocodile. The brazilian can run in high speeds on land. Their predators on land are the jaguar and the puma, the only land animals in the amazon which are capable of hunting prey this large. Brazilian tapirs normally run away when the sense danger.
Diet
They are herbivores, using their mobile snout for eating different typesof plants.
Conservation status
The brazilian tapirs are endangered due to hunting as bushmeat and destruction of habitat. Many people have started breeding programs to save this animal from extinction.
Source of picture 1:http://www.animalfactguide.com/animalfacts/brazilian-tapir/
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