The tapir is a hoofed animal that is most closely related with the horse and the rhinocerous. It has a short thick neck and a nose that is drawn out to make a small trunk. The tapir has an excellent sense of smell but very poor eyesite. It is a night feeder that eats aquatic plants as well as leaves and buds of low growing vegetation. Like an elephant it uses its short snout to grab plants.
There are only four species of tapirs in the world. They are in danger of extinction because of hunting and habitat loss.
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