The Malayan tapir is usually included in Tapirus as well, although some authorities have moved it into its own genus, Acrocodia.

[2] The Kabomani tapir was at one point recognized as another living member of the genus, but is now considered to be nested within T.

[4][5] The genus Tapirus first appeared during the Middle Miocene (around 16-10 million years ago), known fossils in both Europe (T. telleri) and North America (T. johnsoni and T.

[6] The youngest tapir in Europe, Tapirus arvernensis became extinct at the end of the Pliocene, around 2.6 million years ago.

[7] Tapirus dispersed into South America during the Early Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange, around 2.6-1 million years ago.