Head to head
Baird's Tapir vs Mountain Tapir
Baird's Tapir
VS Mountain Tapir
Baird's tapir and the mountain tapir are two Endangered tapirs of the Americas, one a big swimmer of Central American lowland forest and wetland and the other a small woolly tapir of the cold high Andes.
| Baird's Tapir | Mountain Tapir | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tapirus bairdii | Tapirus pinchaque |
| Size | The largest land mammal in Central America | The smallest of the four tapir species |
| Coat | A dark body with a pale face and throat and white-tipped ears | Thick, woolly fur, with white-edged lips and white-tipped ears |
| Habitat | Forest and wetlands | Cloud forest and open high mountain grassland known as paramo, up to about 4,000 metres |
| Range | Southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia | The Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru |
| Water and seeds | Swims and dives in rivers and swamps, and spreads seeds in its droppings | Not specifically documented |
| Threats | Forest loss and hunting | Loss of forest and grassland to farming and cattle, and hunting in places |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Endangered, with a decreasing population |
Baird's Tapir vs Mountain Tapir: common questions
Which tapir is the smallest?
The mountain tapir, which is the smallest of the four tapir species.
Which tapir lives high in the mountains?
The mountain tapir, which lives in cloud forest and paramo at heights of up to about 4,000 metres.
Where do Baird's and mountain tapirs live?
Baird's tapir lives from southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia, while the mountain tapir lives in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru.