tapir

American  

[tey-per, tuh-peer] / ˈteɪ pər, təˈpɪər /

noun

plural

tapirs,

plural

tapir

1. any of several large, stout, three-toed ungulates of the family Tapiridae, of Central and South America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, somewhat resembling swine and having a long, flexible snout: all species are threatened or endangered.

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tapir British  

/ ˈteɪpə /

noun

1. any perissodactyl mammal of the genus Tapirus, such as T. indicus ( Malayan tapir ), of South and Central America and SE Asia, having an elongated snout, three-toed hind legs, and four-toed forelegs: family Tapiridae

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Etymology

Origin of tapir

1560–70; ≪ Tupi tapira

Example Sentences

This region shelters not only migratory songbirds but also jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws.

From Science Daily

Researchers who captured footage of dog attacks on endangered mountain tapirs in Colombia are calling for action to protect threatened wildlife.

From Science Daily

"Animals like sloths and armadillos came north, while horses, tapirs, bears and elephants went south," said study co-author Bruce MacFadden, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

From Science Daily

Their phones were now full of oncillas, tapirs, great horned owls and the gleaming crowns of Mauritius palms at sunset.

From New York Times

This may also explain why other animals with trunks, such as tapirs, never developed such dextrous trunks as elephants, as they never moved into open lands.

From Science Daily