The Quilled Tippy-Tapirs are small ungulates native to the southern tropical forests of Elysium. These small herbivores are very gregarious and travel through the undergrowth in small herds. They feel secure with several pairs of eyes and ears on the lookout for potential threats. A lone Tippy-Tapir is extremely skittish and on edge, feeling at the slightest hit of danger. While in a group, Tippy-Tapirs are much bolder, willing to intimidate a potential threat by rattling their quills (unless they encounter a predator that will not fall for this intimidation strategy).

In terms of coloration, Tippy-Tapirs resemble baby tapirs from Earth. Their striped pelts allow them to hide in the undergrowth. Their Quills are hollow on the inside and are used more for threat displays than piercing through enemy skin (though an unlucky predator might still get one of those quills lodged in their gums or throat if not careful).

The name "Tippy-Tapir" was coined by one of the field researchers who witnessed the little critters walking on the forest floor and described it as the tapirs "doing a little Tippy-Tappy walk". And so the name stuck.