Definition

Noun: * A large, herbivorous, odd-toed ungulate mammal (Tapirus indicus) native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, specifically the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra. It is characterized by a distinctive black and white two-tone coloration and a long, flexible prehensile snout.

Usage

• The term "Indian tapir" is used specifically to refer to this particular species of tapir, distinguishing it from the tapir species found in Central and South America.
• It is a countable noun.

Examples

• The Indian tapir, with its striking black and white coat, is sometimes called the "Malayan tapir."
• Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the endangered Indian tapir.
• Unlike its New World cousins, the Indian tapir is the largest of the four extant tapir species.

Advanced Usage

• The species is also commonly referred to as the Malayan tapir or the Asian tapir. The name "Indian tapir" is a historical reference to the East Indies, not the country of India.
• In zoological and conservation contexts, its scientific name, , is frequently used.

Variants and Related Words

• Malayan tapir (n): The most common alternative name for the same species.
• Asian tapir (n): A broader regional name for the same species.
• Tapir (n): The general term for the family of mammals () to which the Indian tapir belongs.
• Tapirus indicus (n): The formal, scientific binomial name for the species.

Synonyms

• Malayan tapir
• Asian tapir

Different Meanings

• There is only one primary meaning for the compound noun "Indian tapir," which is the specific zoological species described. It does not refer to a tapir from the country of India.

Noun

1. a tapir found in Malaya and Sumatra