Braid's Tapir [Tapirus bairdii] is native to tropical rainforest's and mesophyll mountain forests near water of Central and South America. It is the largest wild living mammal of the American continent. Adults are 6 feet long and have a robust body which ends in a short tail. Male and female look alike. The hind paws have four toes and are larger than the front paws which have three toes. They have short fur which is dark gray at most of the body, except for their white and light brown patches at the face and the chest. The young resemble the adults, but have light colored spotted and striped fur. In spite of their plump looking body, they are good swimmers and move with considerable agility. The shy animals prefer moving and feeding at night. They are vegetarians, who eat aquatic plants, palm shoots, vines, legumes, sugar cane wild fruits and seeds.
The species is in danger of extinction due to deforestation of their habitat and being hunted for their meat.
[Mammals of the Yucatan Peninsula, Editional Dante S.A. de C.V. Mexico, 2005]