Protapirus

Protapirus (Latin: "before" (pro), + Brazilian Indian: "tapir" (tapira)) is an extinct genus of tapir known from the Oligocene and Miocene of North America and Eurasia.

==Taxonomy== The type species is Protapirus priscus from the Late Oligocene of Quercy, France. Protapirus is often considered the earliest true tapir, or at least a tapiroid that is the direct ancestor of the true tapir family. left|thumb|P. simplex skull illustration. left|thumb|Mandible of Protapirus priscus.