tapir

Everyday

1. A tapir is a large, plant-eating animal shaped a bit like a pig, with a short, bendy nose (snout) like a tiny trunk. tree →
2. Tapirs live in forests of Central and South America and South-East Asia, and are good swimmers. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, the tapir is an example of a rainforest herbivore; baby tapirs have stripes and spots for camouflage that fade as they grow. The Malayan tapir is black with a white middle, like a blanket. Tapirs are endangered because forests are cut down. Their nearest relatives are horses and rhinos, not pigs. Phrases: «baby tapir», «Malayan tapir», «a tapir's snout».

Examples

• A tapir uses its bendy snout to grab leaves. tree →
• Baby tapirs have stripes like a watermelon. tree →
• The tapir hid in the river to escape the jaguar. tree →
• Tapirs are related to horses and rhinos. tree →
• The Malayan tapir is black and white. tree →
• Tapirs are in danger because the rainforest is shrinking. tree →
• Then there is the story of how the tortoise pretended that he was stronger than the tapir. tree →

Note

Plural: «tapirs». Say it "TAY-per" (UK and US) or "ta-PEER". Trap: it looks like a pig but is not related to pigs. Spelled with -ir.