154 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD 



Tenasserim south through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra. 

 The Malay Tapir (Tapirus indicus) is easily recognized by 

 its heavy build, short tail, oval ears, and long snout or pro- 

 boscis. The head, fore parts, and hind legs are black; the 

 remainder of the rump and the upperpart of the thighs is gray- 

 ish white. The young at birth are brownish black with spots 

 and streaks of brownish yellow on the back and sides, but they 

 change to the adult color during their first year. An adult 

 may reach the height of three and one-half feet. Tapirs fre- 

 quent forests ; they live chiefly in swamps and along rivers and 

 are very partial to water. In their native home they are shy 

 and difficult to approach, but in captivity they become very 

 tame. 



