The family Tapiridae consists of large, herbivorous mammals known as tapirs, which are native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Tapirs have a distinctive prehensile snout, which they use to grasp leaves and fruit, and a stocky, rounded body adapted for moving through dense forests and wetlands. They are generally solitary and primarily nocturnal, feeding on a variety of vegetation including fruits, leaves, and aquatic plants. Tapirs play an important ecological role as seed dispersers, helping maintain forest biodiversity. Despite their adaptability, all tapir species are considered vulnerable or endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation of their natural environments.