The Malayan tapir, also called the Asian tapir, is the largest of the five species of tapir and the only one native to Asia. The animal is easily identified by its markings, most notably the light,colored patch that extends from its shoulders to its rear end. The rest of its hair is black, except for the tips of its ears, which are rimmed with white. This pattern is for camouflage, the disrupted coloration makes it more difficult to recognize it as a tapir, and other animals may mistake it for a large rock rather than prey when it is lying down to sleep