raccoon
Unicode: 1F99D
Description
A cartoon tapir, often depicted with dark grey or black fur, a white or light-colored snout and belly, and sometimes a slightly blue or purple hue. It has a distinctive long, flexible nose.
Group:
Animals & Nature > animal-mammal
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Generally neutral, but can evoke a sense of curiosity, cuteness, or exoticism due to the animal's unique appearance.
Backstory
The Tapir emoji was introduced as part of Unicode 9.0 in 2016. Its inclusion was part of an effort to expand the range of animal emojis to represent global biodiversity, allowing users to depict more specific wildlife and natural environments.
Usage Examples
- Discussing wildlife: 'I saw a tapir at the zoo today! 🦝'
- Talking about unique animals: 'Tapirs are such fascinating creatures! 🦝'
- Referring to rainforests or specific ecosystems: 'The Amazon rainforest is home to many animals, including the tapir 🦝.'
- Figurative use (dream-eating in some cultures): 'Had a bad dream last night, wish I had a tapir to eat it 🦝.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
May be seen as an exotic animal, often associated with zoos, rainforests, or educational contexts. Less common as a general expression of emotion.
East Asian culture:
In some cultures, like Japan, tapirs (Baku) are mythical creatures believed to devour bad dreams, giving the emoji a subtle association with protection or sleep.