Mammals
Malayan Tapir
Tapirus indicus · also called Asian tapir, Asiatic tapir
Wading through a forest stream at night, a Malayan tapir swings its flexible snout toward a leafy branch, its black and white coat looking like scattered patches of light and shade.
Overview
The Malayan tapir, Tapirus indicus, is an Endangered browser of Southeast Asian rainforest and the largest and only Old World tapir. Its two-tone coat, flexible snout, and swimming ability make it one of the most distinctive large mammals of the region.
A tapir far from the Americas
All the other tapirs live in Central and South America, which makes the Malayan tapir a striking example of an animal group split across oceans.
Status
Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Malayan Tapir: common questions
Why is the Malayan tapir black and white?
Its black body with a pale saddle breaks up its outline, which helps hide it in dim forest light.
Is the Malayan tapir the only tapir outside the Americas?
Yes, it is the only tapir found outside the Americas, and the largest of the four species.
What does the Malayan tapir eat?
It browses on leaves, twigs, fruit, and aquatic plants, grasping them with its flexible snout.
Where is the Malayan tapir found?
It lives in rainforest in Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, and Myanmar.