South American Tapir: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hooves and Horns · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. One of only four tapir species, it is the biggest native land mammal still living in the Amazon.
2. This heavy animal is a superb swimmer and diver, yet it also moves fast on land, even across rough, mountainous ground.
3. Its short, bendy snout grabs leaves, buds, shoots and fruit. Tapirs also eat most kinds of seeds found in the rainforest.
4. Young tapirs are brown with white stripes running along the body. The stripes fade at around 7 months old.
5. In France, this tapir lives wild only in French Guiana, where people also call it the maïpouri.

The quiz

1. What record does this tapir hold in the Amazon?

• Fastest runner
• Largest native land mammal (correct)
• Smallest hoofed animal
• Loudest call

It is the largest surviving native land mammal in the Amazon.

2. Where is the South American tapir at home?

• Only in trees
• Only in deserts
• Only underground
• In water and on land (correct)

It swims and dives very well and moves quickly on land too.

3. What does the tapir use to grab its food?

• Its front claws
• Its long tail
• Its bendy snout (correct)
• Its sharp horns

It feeds using its mobile nose.

4. What do young tapirs look like?

• Brown with white stripes (correct)
• Plain grey all over
• Bright red with black spots
• Pure white

Young tapirs are brown with white stripes, which fade at about 7 months.

5. In which part of France does this tapir live wild?

• Corsica
• The Alps
• Brittany
• French Guiana (correct)

In France it lives wild only in French Guiana, where it is called the maïpouri.

More about the South American Tapir

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries