Tapir word meaning and definition

[noun] large inoffensive chiefly nocturnal ungulate of tropical America and southeast Asia having a heavy body and fleshy snout

\Ta"pir\, n. [Braz. tapy'ra: cf. F. tapir.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large odd-toed ungulates belonging to {Tapirus}, {Elasmognathus}, and allied genera. They have a long prehensile upper lip, short ears, short and stout legs, a short, thick tail, and short, close hair. They have three toes on the hind feet, and four toes on the fore feet, but the outermost toe is of little use. Note: The best-known species are the Indian tapir ({Tapirus Indicus}), native of the East Indies and Malacca, which is black with a broad band of white around the middle, and the common American tapir ({T. Americanus}), which, when adult, is dull brown. Several others species inhabit the Andes and Central America. {Tapir tiger} (Zo["o]l.), the wallah.

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