The lowland tapir, also called the South American tapir, is the largest native land mammal in the Amazon region.
Its scientific name is Tapirus terrestris. The species occurs across much of tropical South America, including Amazonian forests, wetlands, and river margins. An adult can weigh more than 200 kilograms, making it substantially larger than most other Amazonian mammals.
Lowland tapirs are herbivores that eat leaves, shoots, aquatic plants, and fallen fruit. Their movement through forests and digestion of fruit make them important seed dispersers. They are often most active at night or during twilight, especially where human disturbance is present.
The species is distinct from the mountain tapir, which lives in the Andes, and the Baird’s tapir of Central America. Habitat conversion and hunting are major conservation concerns for Amazonian populations.