The baby tapir is able to travel with its mother almost immediately. The adult tapir has an interesting color pattern of black and white. The head, shoulders, fore and hind limbs, tail, chest and belly are dark brown or black. The black coloration of the head, shoulders and legs are quite obscure in the usually dark forest environment. The contrasting bicolor blends the tapir with its environment.
Tapirs are nocturnal and solitary creatures, with a love for dense cover and water.
They are generally territorial and possibly mate for life. Small tapir family groups are seen in the wild sometimes, most often a mother and offspring - but the tapir usually maintains a solitary existence. They are also strong and agile runners, and tend to evade predators or deter them with their tough hides and by snapping and biting. They like to bathe, and will make treks to pools and rivers for this purpose. They swim well, climb well and bulldoze paths through the vegetation of their habitats.