The tapir is the largest terrestrial Brazilian mammal. It has four fingers on its front paws and three toes on its rear paws, which are protected by a sort of hoof. Adult tapirs are brown, but the young have spots on their legs and heads, and stripes on their bodies. Their snout looks like a small elephant trunk. Their ears are mobile, like those of horses, and their tails are short. Tapirs live near rivers inside the forest, where they can hide when they are chased. Their meat is delicious, which is why they are often hunted. People say that when they are shot they give off a bad smell. Tapirs can weight up to 650 pounds.
Approximate size: Up to 6 feet long and 3 feet tall.
