ODD-TOED UNGTJT.ATES (pERISSODACTYLa) 261 



The range of these animals is now restricted to 

 Central and South America, the Malay Peninsula, 

 and the islands of Sumatra and Java. In the 

 Pliocene and Miocene periods, however, tapirs mnst 

 have ranged over America, Europe, and Asia,, since 

 their fossil remains are abundant. 



Fig. o7. — The Brazilian Taj^ir (Tapirus americmms). (Photo, 

 by W. S. Berridge.) 



The American tapir is brownish-black in colour, 

 while the Malay tapir has a broad white band round 

 the body. The young of both species are weirdly 

 striped and spotted with white. Tapirs have black 

 skin and very short hair. I'hey have four toes on the 

 fore feet and three on the hind feet, all being pro- 

 vided with broad hoofs. They inhabit swamps and 

 river beds, and are peaceful vegetable feeders. 



