Who lives in the tropics. Rainforest Animals

The author, in love with his science - zoogeography, claims and proves that it is as interesting as everything connected with the life of animals in the wild. He talks surprisingly clearly about biological properties animals that help them exist in a certain environment, about the connections of fauna with plant formations, about the distribution of animals around the globe and about the factors limiting their settlement, about the history of the development of fauna on various continents.

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Near the equator, the sun remains high in the sky all year round. The air is highly saturated with water vapor rising from the damp earth. Seasons of the year are not expressed. It's stiflingly hot.

In such a climate, lush vegetation develops, the most exotic formation of our earth - the tropical forest. Due to the large role of rain in the formation of this formation, it is also called tropical rain forest.

There are three large tracts of tropical forests in the world: in South America they occupy almost the entire vast Amazon River basin; in Africa they cover the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea; in Asia, tropical forests occupy part of India, the Indochinese Peninsula, the Malacca Peninsula, the Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands, the Philippines and the island of New Guinea.

The rainforest seems fabulous to everyone who enters it for the first time. The abundance of moisture, mineral salts, and optimal temperatures create conditions under which plants form dense thickets, and deep shadow makes them stretch upward, toward the light. It is not for nothing that the tropical forest is famous for its huge trees, raising their crowns high.

Extremely characteristic of tropical forest Plants are epiphytes that appear on the trunks and branches of other plants. These include both flowering plants and many species of ferns, mosses and lichens.

Some epiphytes, such as numerous orchids, obtain nutrients exclusively from air and rainwater.

Under the canopy of the tropical forest there are no grasses, only rotting remains of leaves, branches and huge trunks of dead trees lie here. This is the kingdom of mushrooms. In conditions of heat and moisture, decomposition and mineralization occur quickly dead remains plants and animals, which determines the high speed of the biological cycle of substances.

If in a deciduous forest temperate climate Three or four tiers are clearly defined, but here, in the tropical thickets, we immediately get lost in the multitude of tiers and half-tiers.

The richness of the flora is stunning. If five to ten species of trees are found in European mixed forests, then here there are many times more species per hectare of forest than grow in all of Europe. Here you need to spend a lot of time and effort to find at least two identical trees. In Cameroon, for example, there are about 500 species of trees and another 800 species of shrubs.

The wood of the trees of the equatorial forest, where there are no seasons, has no rings and is highly valued in industry, for example, ebony (black) wood and mahogany.

At any time of the year, the tropical forest blooms and bears fruit. It happens that on the same tree you can simultaneously see buds, flowers, ovaries and ripening fruits. And even if the harvest from one tree is completely harvested, there will always be another nearby, all hung with fruits.

This amazing environment is home to an equally amazing world of animals. The air, saturated with water vapor, allows many invertebrates that usually live in aquatic environments to live here on land. For example, Ceylon leeches are widely known (Haemadipsa ceylonica), which stick to the leaves of trees and lie in wait for prey (warm-blooded animals), a number of species of crustaceans, centipedes and even amphipods.

All invertebrate animals, whose skin is not covered with a dense chitinous shell, feel really good only in the tropical forest, but elsewhere they are constantly in danger of drying out. Even an experienced zoologist can hardly imagine how many, for example, gastropods lives in any corner of the tropical forest. Only one family Helicarionidae in Africa there are more species than all the mollusks in the whole of Poland. Gastropods live everywhere: underground, in fallen trees, on trunks, among branches and leaves, in various layers of the forest. They do not even descend to the ground to lay eggs. Some gastropods of the Philippines (Helicostyla leucophthalma) They build wonderful nests for their eggs from leaves glued together with mucus.

Here are ideal conditions for amphibian habitat. In tropical forests there is a huge variety of species of frogs, tree frogs, and toads. Many species lay their eggs in the axils of huge leaves, where water accumulates. Other species lay their eggs directly on the leaves, and their tadpoles undergo accelerated development inside the gelatinous shells of the eggs. There are also species in which the eggs are carried by the male or female on the back. This lasts more than ten days, whereas in our conditions the caviar would dry in a few hours.

Insects in the tropical forest reproduce continuously and live here in huge numbers.

Perhaps it is in the insect fauna that one can most clearly see how the fauna of the tropical forest differs from the tundra. In the tundra, a few species create a population of billions. In tropical thickets, large zoomass is created due to the abundance of species. In the tropical forest it is much easier to catch one hundred specimens of different species for collection than the same number of representatives of the same species. Large number species and the paucity of individuals is a fundamental feature of both the flora and fauna of the tropical rain forest. For example, on the island of Barro Colorado in the Panama Canal, as a result of many years of research, about 20 thousand species of insects were discovered on several square kilometers, while in some European country the number of insect species reaches only two to three thousand.

In this diversity, the most fantastic-looking animals arise. Tropical forests are the homeland of all praying mantises that imitate the body shape of tree knots, butterflies that look like leaves, wasp flies and other skillfully camouflaged species.

Wasps and bumblebees form permanent swarms, living in huge and constantly growing nests. Ants and termites are as widespread in tropical forests as in savannas. There are many predators among ants, for example the famous Brazilian ants (Ecitony), not building anthills and migrating in a continuous avalanche. On their way, they kill and devour any animal they encounter. They can create a kind of nest from their own bodies, crowding into a tight ball. In the tropics there are rarely anthills or termite mounds on the ground. They are usually located high up - in hollows, in curled leaves and inside plant stems.

The year-round abundance of flowers explains why only in the tropics do birds live that feed exclusively on nectar or small insects found in the calyxes of flowers. These are two families: hummingbirds of South America (Trochilidae) and African-Asian sunbirds (Nectariniidae). It’s the same with butterflies: in the rainforest they fly by the thousands throughout the year.

The continuously ripening fruits serve as food for many groups of frugivores typical of the tropics. Among the birds, the most numerous are parrots and large-billed American toucans. (Rhamphastidae) and hornbills (Bucerotidae), which replace them in Africa; and in Asia - turaco (Musophagidae) with bright plumage and many others leading a similar lifestyle. Dozens of monkey species compete with birds. Frugivores spend their lives in the crowns of trees, in the upper tiers of the forest. Large fruit bats are typical here (Megachiroptera)- flying dogs and flying foxes.

In a tropical forest, the higher the level, the more life there is.

The arboreal lifestyle is typical of many species of tropical forest animals. In this regard, small animals predominate here. Thus, various small monkeys - macaques and monkeys - live in trees, and a large gorilla (up to 200 kilograms in weight) is terrestrial, while chimpanzees, which are of medium size, lead a terrestrial-arboreal lifestyle.

Of the three Brazilian anteaters, the smallest pygmy anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) leads an arboreal lifestyle, and the large anteater (Myrmecophaga jubata)- exclusively terrestrial animal. The average-sized anteater is the tamandua. (Tamandua tetradactyla) It moves awkwardly both on the ground and along the branches and obtains food both here and here.

Everyone is familiar with the tree frog, the tree frog. (Hyla arborea), which, thanks to the suction cups on its fingers, feels confident both on the branches and on the smooth surface of the leaf. In the tropics, tree frogs are extremely widespread. But they are not the only ones who have suction cups on their fingers. They are also found in frogs of three other families: true frogs (Ranidae), copepods (Rhacophoridae) and whistlers (Leptodactylidae). The Indonesian tarsier also has suction toes. (Tarsius), arboreal porcupines and some bats from different parts light: from America (Thyroptera), Asia (Tylonycteris) and from Madagascar (Myzopoda). When moving along branches, the safest thing is to grasp the branch on both sides like pincers. Monkey hands and feet are good, but not the best device of this type. It is better if half of the fingers wrap around the branch on one side, and the other fingers on the other side. This is exactly how the legs of the African snapping frog are designed. (Chiromantis), in some lizards and chameleons. Tree-climbing birds - woodpeckers, toucans, parrots and some cuckoos - have two toes turned forward and two back. Tenacious paws and suckers do not exhaust all possible adaptations for moving through trees. American sloth (Bradypus)- This is another fruit- and leaf-eating animal that lives in the crowns. Elongated, hook-shaped claws allow it to hang in the thickest branches without expending effort. Even when dead, the sloth does not fall to the ground, and its remains hang on the tree for a long time until the skeleton crumbles into separate bones. Parrots use their large curved beak to climb, clinging to tree branches like a claw.

Many animals use a spirally coiled tail for clinging. Chameleons, some lizards and mammals use such a “fifth paw”. American monkeys: howler monkeys (Alouatta), capuchins (Cebus) coats (Ateles), woolly monkeys (Lagothrix), as well as American tree porcupines (Erethizontidae) They make excellent use of their tail when climbing.

Another method of arboreal movement is used by Asian gibbons. (Hylobatidae). The animal, swinging strongly on one arm, flies forward and clings to another branch, then again swings pendulum-like and again flies to the next branch. These jumps sometimes reach 10–20 meters. With such movement, the legs do not work at all, and therefore the gibbons have short and weak ones. But the arms are very long and strong: after all, what longer arm, the stronger the scope. The palms themselves have undergone corresponding changes: thumb small and hardly used, and the remaining four fingers are unusually elongated. These fingers form something like a movable hook that can catch on a passing branch when jumping.

Tropical birds are poor flyers. Both parrots and toucans fly slowly, but are able to maneuver well in the complex interweaving of branches. Nowhere in the world are there so many gliding animals, a kind of “parachutists,” as in the tropical forest. There's a flying frog here (Rhacophorus), making multi-meter jumps, during which it soars with the help of huge membranes, a flying lizard (Draco volans), in which the protruding processes of the ribs are connected by skin that serves for hovering. Flying squirrels (Sciuridae), dormouse (Aliridae) and some other animals glide on skin stretched between their limbs. When jumping, the front legs are stretched far forward and to the sides, and the hind legs are stretched back, while the skin stretches, increasing the load-bearing surface. The flying cat also uses gliding flight (Cynocephalus ) - a strange creature, from the order of woolly wings, or kaguans (Dermoptera), somewhat similar to the lemur and partly to the insectivorous mammals of the tropical forests of Indochina, Indonesia and the Philippines.

In the dense vegetation of the tropical rain forest, orientation becomes a serious problem. Here, in front of a dense wall of trees, vines and other plants, vision is powerless. In the upper tiers of the forest it is difficult to see anything further than five meters away.

The sense of smell doesn't help much either. The air is still day and night. No wind penetrates the wilds or carries smells throughout the forest. However, the smell of decay and the heavy, intoxicating aroma of tropical flowers drowns out any other smell. In such conditions, hearing is most useful. Small groups of animals wandering in the crowns owe only to hearing that they do not lose each other. Travelers often mention noisy flocks of parrots and monkeys. They are really very noisy, they constantly call to each other, like children picking berries and mushrooms in the forest. But all solitary animals are silent, silent and listening to see if the enemy is approaching. And the enemy silently circles around and listens for possible prey to rustle somewhere.

Due to the dense tree canopy, the ground is not visible from above; In addition, the earth does not heat up much, and no upward currents form in the air, so soaring birds of prey are not found in the tropical forest.

A huge number of animals inhabit the upper tiers of the tropical forest, but at the very “bottom” of it, on the ground, life is also in full swing. In addition to numerous invertebrates, ungulates, predators and large anthropoid monkeys live here. It is in vain to look here for large deer with spreading antlers: it would simply be difficult for them to move in the thicket. Tropical forest deer have small antlers, often not branched at all. Most antelopes are also small, about the size of a chamois or hare. An example is the pygmy antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) height at the withers about 30 centimeters, antelopes of the genus Cephalophus, or red-chestnut, with light stripes and spots, the size of a chamois bushbuck antelope (Tragelaphus scriptus). Of the large ungulates, the bongo antelope lives in the African forest. (Boocercus eurycerus) red-chestnut color, with thin sparse vertical stripes and, of course, with small horns.

Or finally okapi Okapia johnstoni - a species first discovered only in 1901 and more or less studied twenty years later. For many years this animal has been a kind of symbol of the mysteries of Africa. This is a distant relative of the giraffe, approximately the size of a donkey, with a body higher in front than in the back, compressed laterally, with a red-chestnut body, and legs black with white stripes.

Please note: again red-chestnut color with white spots and stripes. This type of protective coloring makes sense only in the depths of the forest, where against the reddish background of rotting vegetation, the sunlight breaking through the dense arch of the tropical forest appears as white spots and sliding highlights. All these relatively large animals lead a nocturnal, hidden lifestyle. If we meet two animals here at the same time, then it is either a couple or a mother and baby. Forest ungulates do not have a herd life. And this is understandable: in the forest nothing is visible even twenty steps away, and the herd loses its protective biological significance.

The elephant is the only animal that passes through the thicket, leaving behind a corridor cut through the living body of the forest. Where a herd of elephants feeds, a vast trampled space appears, like an arena under the arch of the crowns of untouched huge trees.

The Kaffir buffalo lives in the forests of Africa (Syncerus caffer), in Asia - gaur (Bibos gaurus). Both of these species readily use paths made by elephants.

The influence of the tropical forest also affected appearance elephants and buffalos. The forest elephant subspecies is undoubtedly smaller in stature than the elephants living in the savannas, and the forest buffalo is not only smaller than the savanna buffalo, but its horns are disproportionately small.

Just as in the savannah lions are constantly followed by jackals, feeding on the remains of the lion's prey, in the tropical forest many animals accompany elephants. Different types of wild boars from the genus Hylochoerus And Potamochoerus perfectly adapted to life in the forest. Low, narrow, with a wedge-shaped forehead, with a powerful snout, they feel great in dense thickets. In places where elephants have knocked down trees or uprooted them, wild boars find edible roots and rhizomes, insect larvae, etc. When the elephants' feeding area is completely dug up by wild boars, herds of forest baboons appear on it. Among them are sphinx mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) with brightly colored muzzles and buttocks and smaller black-snouted mandrills (M. leucophaeus), which dig in the dug up ground in search of food.

A special group of great apes here are gorillas and chimpanzees. The former lead a terrestrial, the latter a terrestrial-arboreal lifestyle. They move easily in the tropical forest, roaming in small groups and feeding on a variety of plant and animal foods.

The tropics occupy less than 2% of the earth's surface. Geographically, the climate zone runs along the equator. The limit of deviation from it in both directions is considered to be a latitude of 23.5 degrees. More than half of the planet's animals live in this belt.

This also applies to plants. But today in the spotlight rainforest animals. Let's start with the Amazon. The area covers 2,500,000 square kilometers.

These are the largest tropics of the planet and, in combination, its lungs, whose forests produce 20% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. There are 1,800 species of butterflies alone in the Amazon forests. There are 300 species of reptiles. Let's focus on unique ones that do not live in other areas of the planet.

river dolphin

In addition, they differ in color. The backs of the animals are gray-white, and the undersides are pinkish. The older the dolphin, the lighter its top. Only in captivity the endemic does not become snow-white.

Amazon dolphins live with humans for no more than 3 years. Puberty occurs at 5. So, zoologists did not wait for offspring in captivity and stopped torturing the animals. As you understand, there are no Amazonian endemics in any third-party dolphinarium in the world. In their homeland, by the way, they are called inia, or buto.

River dolphin or inia

Piranha trombetas

Trombetas is one of the tributaries of the Amazon. What animals are in the rainforest inspire terror? In the series of names, there will probably be . There are known cases when they gnawed people.

A lot of books have been written and films have been made on this topic. However, new look Piranha prefers grass and algae to flesh. On diet food, fish can eat up to 4 kilograms. The Trambetas piranha reaches half a meter in length.

Trambetas piranha

Red-bearded (copper) jumper

It is included in interesting animals of the rainforest only 3 years ago. A new species of monkey was discovered in the Amazon jungle in 2014 during an expedition organized by the World Wide Fund. wildlife.

In the “lungs of the planet” they found a 441-in new species. There is only one mammal among them - the red-bearded jumper. classified as broad-nosed. Presumably, there are no more than 250 jumpers in the world.

Animals are monogamous; once they form a pair, they do not cheat and live separately with their children. When the jumpers are happy with each other, they purr, which makes them stand out from other monkeys.

In the photo there is a copper jumper monkey

Possibly lost

In Latin, the name of the species is Alabates amissibilis. This is the smallest one. The species is on the verge of extinction. The difficulty of detecting it is also related to its size. Alabates are frogs the size of your pinky fingernail.

They are beige-brown with stripes on the sides. Despite their tiny size, frogs of the species are poisonous, so they are not suitable for French cuisine, even if it were not for their protected status.

The smallest frog Alabates amissibilis

Herbivorous dracula bat

Looks scary, but he's a vegetarian. Dracula is a flyer. On its muzzle there is a skin outgrowth called the nasal leaf. Combined with wide-set, slanted eyes the growth creates a terrifying appearance.

We add large and pointed ears, compressed lips, bluish coloring, and bonyness. It turns out to be an image from nightmares. Actually, herbivorous devils are active at night. During the day, animals hide in the crowns of trees or caves.

Herbivorous bat Dracula

Fire Salamander

The name of the species, so far, generalized, refers to. It was their relative who was discovered in the tropics near the Amazon. The scientific name of the species is Cercosaura hophoides. The lizard has a red tail.

The body is dark with thin yellowish veins. Scientists have long suspected the existence of the species. A clutch of eggs of an unknown reptile was found on the lands of Colombia.

However, neither father nor mother could be found. Perhaps the one found in 2014 is the parent of the clutch. Zoologists suggest that Cercosaura hophoides is no more than a hundred years old.

Pictured is a fire salamander

Okapi

The population is also on the verge of extinction. This is a rare species of giraffe. It was shown to Western zoologists by pygmies. This happened in 1900. However, this conversation is already about endemics African jungle, in particular, the forests of the Congo. Let's go under their canopy.

Externally, this giraffe resembles a horse with an elongated neck. Compared to the neck of an ordinary giraffe, it is, on the contrary, short. But okapi has a record-breaking language. The length of the organ allows you not only to reach the succulent foliage, but also to wash your eyes animals. Rainforest World Okapi also had a blue tongue.

As for the coat color, it is chocolate. Transverse white stripes are visible on the legs. In combination with dark brown, they are reminiscent of the colors of zebras.

Okapi are gentle parents. These animals living in the tropical forest, They love children dearly, never take their eyes off them, and protect them to the last drop of blood. Considering the number of okapi, it is impossible to do otherwise. The species is listed in the Red Book and each cub is worth its weight in gold. Several giraffes are not born. One pregnancy - one child.

Tetra Congo

This is a fish of the characin family. There are almost 1700 species. Congo is found only in the basin of the river of the same name. The fish has a bright blue-orange coloring. It is expressed in males. Females are “dressed” more modestly.

The fins of the species resemble the finest lace. The Congo reaches 8.5 centimeters in length and is peaceful. The description is ideal for aquarium fish. The endemic is indeed kept at home. Congos love dark soil. One fish needs about 5 liters of soft water.

Tetra Congo fish

Bales shrew

Belongs to the shrews, lives in the east. The range is 500 square kilometers. The animal's burrows are not found throughout their entire length, but only in 5 localities. All of them are destroyed by man.

The animal has a cone-shaped nose, an elongated body, a bare tail, and gray short fur. In general, for most, yes a mouse. The problem of its survival is that without food the animal does not last longer than 11 hours. In conditions of danger and hunger, the latter wins. While the shrew catches the insect, others catch it.

Bales shrew mouse

African marabou

Refers to storks. The bird was nicknamed adjutant for its peculiar gait. It is ranked among the largest birds. This refers to flying species. African grows up to 1.5 meters.

The weight of the animal is about 10 kilograms. A bare head lightens the figure a little. The absence of feathers reveals wrinkled skin with a massive outgrowth on the neck, where the bird, when sitting, puts its equally massive beak.

Appearance, as they say, is not for everyone. It is not for nothing that the animal is made the hero of many phantasmagoric books, where the bird inspires, at a minimum, awe. As an example, let’s take “Nightmares of the Marabou Stork” by Irvine Welsh.

Now, let's move on to the Asian tropics. They are also filled with rare animals. The names of some of them are familiar at first glance. On the island of Sumatra, for example, they are proud. The fact that it is unusual is indicated by the prefix to the name of the beast.

Pictured is an African marabou

bearded pig

The animal looks like a cross between a wild boar and an anteater. The elongated nose, reminiscent of a trunk, helps to reach leaves, pick fruits and fish fallen fruits from the forest canopy.

Swims well and also uses its nose when spearfishing. Its main function is also appropriate. The sense of smell helps to find mating partners and recognize danger.

Tapirs are known for their long periods of bearing their young. They give birth approximately 13 months after conception. More than one offspring is not born. At the same time, the lifespan of tapirs is a maximum of 30 years.

It becomes clear why the species is dying out. Despite their protected status, tapirs are desirable prey... for,. Deforestation is also decimating the population.

Panda

Not a single list can do without it." names of rainforest animals" Endemic to China, it lives in bamboo groves and is a symbol of the country. In the West they learned about it only in the 19th century.

Zoologists in Europe argued for a long time whether to classify them as raccoons or bears. Genetic tests helped. The animal is recognized as a bear. He leads a secretive lifestyle in three provinces of the PRC. These are Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu.

Pandas have 6 toes on their paws. One of them is just appearance. It is actually a modified carpal bone. The number of teeth grinding plant food is also off the charts.

A person has 7 times less. That is, pandas have more than 200 teeth. They are active about 12 hours a day. Only 1/5 of the leaves eaten are absorbed. Considering that pandas do not hibernate, the tropical forests are saved only by the rapid growth of bamboo, a couple of meters per day, and the small number of bears themselves.

Let's complete the journey. Its tropical zone is also affected. The continent is deserted. Tropical forests grow only along the coasts. Their eastern part is included in World Heritage UNESCO. Let's find out what these wonders are for.

Helmeted cassowary

This is a bird of the ostrich order and does not fly. The name of the species is Indonesian, translated as “horned head”. The skin growth on it resembles a comb, but is flesh-colored. There are also some semblances of earrings under the beak. They are scarlet, but thinner and more elongated than those of a rooster. The feathers on the neck are indigo, and the main color is blue-black.

Colorful appearance combined with power. There have been recorded cases where a person was killed with a kick. It is because of cassowaries that a number of Australian parks are closed to the public.

Birds are not aggressive under normal conditions. Protective reflexes make themselves known. The impact force is predictable with a weight of 60 kilos and a height of one and a half meters. The legs are the strongest part of cassowaries, like other ostriches.

Helmeted cassowary

Wallaby

The second name of the species is woody. At first glance it looks more like a bear. Thick, dense fur covers the entire body. The bag is not immediately noticeable. The cub, by the way, can linger indefinitely.

During periods of danger they are able to postpone childbirth. Physiologically, they should pass a maximum of a year after conception. It happens that a child dies before his time. Then, a new embryo comes to replace it, the first to become stillborn, without obliging it to take care of itself.

Scientists pin their hopes on tree kangaroos to save humanity. The stomach of the endemic is capable of processing methane. In case global warming This will come in handy not only for wallabies, but also for people.

They also puzzle over the thermoregulation of tree kangaroos. The species manages to maintain a comfortable body temperature in hot weather. Not a single individual has yet died from overheating, even without shade and plenty of drink.

Tree wallabies are called tree wallabies due to their lifestyle. Observations of animals have shown that most of them die on the same plant where they were born. Hunters found wallabies here.

The hunt for the endemic was announced because of a legend that the beast once attacked a child. This has not been documented, however, the population is in danger.

The animal's protective status helped stop the extermination. To save humanity, a few tens of thousands of individuals are not enough. Therefore, first they will save and multiply them.

Tree kangaroo wallaby

Koala

Without her, just like in Asia without the panda, the list would be incomplete. - symbol of Australia. The animal belongs to wombats. These are marsupials with two incisors. Colonizers of the continent mistook koalas for bears. As a result, the scientific name of the species, phascolarctos, is translated from Greek as “bear with a bag.”

Like bamboo-dependent pandas, koalas only eat eucalyptus. Animals reach 68 centimeters in height and 13 kilograms of mass. The remains of a koala ancestor have been found that was almost 30 times larger.

Like modern wombats, the ancients had two thumbs on each paw. Fingers positioned to the side help to grasp and strip branches.

Studying the ancestors of koalas, scientists came to the conclusion that the species is degrading. The head of modern individuals contains 40% cerebrospinal fluid. At the same time, the weight of the brain does not exceed 0.2% of the total mass of marsupials.

The organ doesn't even fill the cranium. This is exactly what happened to the ancestors of koalas. Zoologists believe that the reason is the choice of a low-calorie diet. Although, many animals that are distinguished by their intelligence feed on leaves.

I remember the beginning of the article, where it is said that the tropics are less than 2% of the earth's surface. It seems like little, but so much life. Likewise, koalas, although they are not distinguished by intelligence, inspire entire nations.

And, who knows, in the presence of animals about their mental abilities It’s better not to speak, in case you offend. Koalas are blind, and therefore have excellent hearing.

Students get acquainted with brief encyclopedic information, answer questions, and test their erudition. The lesson is based on a textbook for further education by Paul Dowswell "The unknown about the known". Recommended by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard.

Type of lesson: combined

Target: development of erudition, cognitive and creative abilities of students; developing the ability to search for information to answer questions.

Tasks:

Educational: the formation of cognitive culture, mastered in the process of educational activities, and aesthetic culture as the ability to have an emotional and value-based attitude towards objects of living nature.

Educational: development of cognitive motives aimed at obtaining new knowledge about living nature; cognitive personality traits associated with mastering the basics scientific knowledge, mastering methods of studying nature, developing intellectual skills;

Educational: orientation in the system of moral norms and values: recognition of the high value of life in all its manifestations, the health of one’s own and other people; environmental awareness; nurturing love for nature;

Personal: understanding of responsibility for the quality of acquired knowledge; understanding the value of adequately assessing one’s own achievements and capabilities;

Cognitive: ability to analyze and evaluate the impact of environmental factors, risk factors on health, the consequences of human activities in ecosystems, the impact of one’s own actions on living organisms and ecosystems; focus on continuous development and self-development; the ability to work with various sources of information, transform it from one form to another, compare and analyze information, draw conclusions, prepare messages and presentations.

Regulatory: the ability to organize independent completion of tasks, evaluate the correctness of work, and reflect on one’s activities.

Communicative: formation of communicative competence in communication and cooperation with peers, understanding of the characteristics of gender socialization in adolescence, socially useful, educational and research, creative and other types of activities.

Technologies: Health conservation, problem-based, developmental education, group activities

Progress of the lesson

Learning new material (teacher's story with elements of conversation)

Questions and tasks for discussion

What does a tropical forest look like? (layers of tropical forest)

Who lives on the upper “floors”?

Are sloths really lazy?

Who lives on the lower “floor”?

How do animals adapt to life in trees?

How do animals manage to fly without wings?

Why are the rainforests so noisy?

Did you know this?

Animalworldtropicalforests

Presentation Animalworldtropicalforests

What does a tropical forest look like?

Rainforests located in the tropical, equatorial and subequatorial belts between 25°N and 30° S, as if “surrounding” the surface of the Earth along the equator. Rainforests are broken only by oceans and mountains.

The vegetation of tropical forests is very diverse, depending mainly on the amount of precipitation and its distribution over the seasons. When abundant (more than 2000 mm), and relatively uniform distribution develop humid tropical evergreen forests .

Classification of tropical forests

Tropical rainforest, tropical rain forest these are forests with specific biomes located in equatorial (wet equatorial forest ), subequatorial and humid tropical areas with a very humid climate (2000-7000 mm of precipitation per year).

Tropical rainforests are characterized by enormous biodiversity. This is the most conducive to life natural area. It is home to a large number of native, including endemic species of animals and plants, as well as migratory animals. Two-thirds of all animal and plant species on the planet live in tropical rainforests. It is estimated that millions of animal and plant species remain undescribed.

These forests are sometimes called "jewels of the earth" And "the largest pharmacy in the world"as a large number of natural medicines have been found here. They are also called “the lungs of the Earth,” but this statement is controversial because it has no scientific basis, since these forests either do not produce oxygen at all or produce very little of it.

Understory formation in tropical forests is severely limited in many places due to the lack of sunlight in the understory. This allows humans and animals to move through the forest. If for any reason the deciduous canopy is absent or weakened, the lower tier is quickly covered with a dense thicket of vines, bushes and small trees - this formation is called a jungle.

The largest areas of tropical rainforests are found in the Amazon Basin (“Amazonian rainforests”), in Nicaragua, in the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula (Guatemala, Belize), in most of Central America (where they are called “selvas”), in equatorial Africa from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in many areas of Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Indonesia and New Guinea, in the Australian state of Queensland.

Fortropical rainforestscharacteristic:

variety of flora,

presence of 4-5 tree layers, absence of shrubs, large number of vines

the predominance of evergreen trees with large evergreen leaves, poorly developed bark, buds not protected by bud scales; in monsoon forests - deciduous trees;

the formation of flowers and then fruits directly on trunks and thick branches

Trees in tropical rainforests share several characteristics that are not seen in plants in less humid climates.

The base of the trunk in many species has wide, woody projections. Previously, it was assumed that these protrusions help the tree maintain balance, but now it is believed that water with dissolved nutrients flows along these protrusions to the roots of the tree. The broad leaves of trees, shrubs and grasses of the lower tiers of the forest are characteristic. Wide leaves help plants better absorb sunlight under the edges of the trees of the forest, and they are protected from the wind from above.

Tall young trees that have not yet reached the top tier also have wider foliage, which then decreases with height. The leaves of the upper tier, which form the canopy, are usually smaller and heavily cut to reduce wind pressure. On the lower floors, the leaves are often narrowed at the ends so that this facilitates the rapid drainage of water and prevents the growth of microbes and moss on them, which destroy the leaves.

Tree tops are often very well connected with each other using vine or epiphytic plants, fixed on them.

The trees of the tropical rainforest are characterized by unusually thin (1-2 mm) tree bark, sometimes covered with sharp thorns or prickles, the presence of flowers and fruits growing directly on the tree trunks, and a wide variety of juicy fruits that attract birds and mammals.

In tropical rainforests there are a lot of insects, especially butterflies (one of the richest faunas in the world) and beetles, and in rivers there are a lot of fish (about 2000 species, approximately a third of the world's freshwater fauna).

Levels (tiers) of tropical rainforest

The rainforest is divided into four main levels, each of which has its own characteristics, has different flora and fauna.

Top level

This tier consists of small quantity very tall trees rising above the forest canopy, reaching a height of 45-55 meters ( rare species reach 60-70 meters). Most often the trees are evergreen, but some shed their leaves during the dry season. Such trees must withstand harsh temperatures and strong winds. This level is home to eagles, bats, some species of monkeys and butterflies.

Crown level (forest canopy)

The crown level is formed by most tall trees, usually 30-45 meters high. This is the densest layer known in all of Earth's biodiversity, with neighboring trees forming a more or less continuous layer of foliage.

Real exploration of this layer only began in the 1980s, when scientists developed techniques to reach the forest canopy, such as shooting ropes into the treetops with crossbows. Forest canopy research is still in its early stages. Other research methods include travel on balloons or aircraft. The science of reaching treetops is called dendronautics.

Sren level

Between the forest canopy and the forest floor there is another level called the understory. It is home to a number of birds, snakes and lizards. Insect life at this level is also very extensive. The leaves in this tier are much wider than at the crown level.

forest floor

Far from the banks of rivers, swamps and open spaces where dense, low-growing vegetation grows, forest floor relatively free of plants. At this level, rotting plants and animal remains can be seen, which quickly disappear due to the warm, humid climate that promotes rapid decomposition.

The selva is formed on vast low-lying areas of land under conditions of constant freshwater moisture, as a result of which the soil of the selva is extremely poor in minerals washed away by tropical rains. Selva is often swampy.

Flora and fauna of the jungle- a riot of colors and a variety of species of plants, birds and mammals.

Mangrove plants They live in sedimentary coastal environments, where fine sediments, often with a high organic content, accumulate in places protected from wave energy.

Mangroves provide habitat for wildlife, including a number of commercial fish and crustacean species, and, in at least some cases, the export of carbon stored by mangroves is important in the coastal food web.

Misty Forest formed by trees with abundant lianas, with a dense cover of epiphytic mosses.

Tree ferns, magnolias, and camellias are typical; the forest may also include non-tropical vegetation.

Animal world tropical forests

Because tropical forests are typically very hot and humid, they are home to some of the world's largest trees and plants. There is so much food and opportunities to hide from enemies that many more animals live in these forests than in other areas of the Earth.

Most of the animals depicted here live in South America, where the world's largest forest area is located. Tropical forests are shown in white on the map.

Occupying only 6% of the landmass, the jungle is home to 50% of living species. Many of them are archaic and ancient. The constant heat and humidity of the jungle have allowed them to survive to this day.

The crowns of the tropics close together so tightly that those living here (1. hornbills, 2. turacos, 3. toucans) Almost forgot how to fly. But they jump well and climb branches. It’s easy to get lost in the intricacies of trunks and roots. The 2007 expedition to the island of Borneo alone gave the world 123 previously unknown tropical animals.

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Inhabitants of the forest floor

The lower layer of the tropics is called the litter. There are fallen leaves and branches here. The overgrowth blocks the light. Therefore, only 2% of the total amount of litter is illuminated sun rays. This limits vegetation. Only shade-tolerant representatives of the flora survive in the litter. Some plants reach for the light, climbing tree trunks like vines.

These kinds of lianas also exist among animal litter. Many of them are large and long necks. This allows you to come out of the shadows, so to speak. The remaining inhabitants of the lower tier of the tropics do not need lighting, but depend only on heat. We are talking about snakes, frogs, insects and soil inhabitants.

Tapir

Looks like a pig long trunk. In fact, the tapir is a relative of rhinoceroses and horses. Together with the trunk, the length of the animal’s body is about 2 meters. Tapirs weigh approximately 3 quintals and are found in Asia and America.

Being nocturnal, the pig-like creatures are camouflaged. Black and white coloring makes tapirs invisible in the dark jungle floor, illuminated by the moon.

Animals living in the tropical forest acquired long nose, in order to hide from the heat and predators under water. When diving, tapirs leave the tip of their “trunk” on the surface. It serves as a breathing tube.

Cuban slittooth

It was declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. At the beginning of the 21st century, the animal was found again. Insectivore is relict species. Externally, its representatives are something between a hedgehog, a rat and a shrew. Living in the mountain tropics of Cuba, the slittooth is the largest of the insectivores. The body length of the animal is 35 centimeters. The slit tooth weighs about a kilogram.

These are flightless birds. Honored as the most dangerous on earth. In Australia, 1-2 people die every year from the powerful paws and clawed wings of cassowaries. How can a bird's wings have claws?

The fact is that cassowaries’ flying “vehicles” are transformed into such rudiments. On their central finger there is a sharp claw. Its size and strength are frightening, considering the bird's 500-kilogram weight and 2-meter height.

Okapi

Found in tropical Africa. The appearance of the animal combines the characteristics of a giraffe and a zebra. The body structure and coloring were borrowed from the latter. Black and white stripes decorate the legs of the okapi. The rest of the body is brown. Head and neck like a giraffe. According to the genome, okapi is precisely his relative. Otherwise, representatives of the species are called forest giraffes.

Okapi's neck is shorter than that of savannah giraffes. But the animal has a long tongue. It is 35 centimeters long and bluish in color. The organ allows okapi to reach foliage and clean its eyes and ears.

Western gorilla

It is the largest among primates and lives in the jungles of central Africa. The animal's DNA is almost 96% identical to human DNA. This applies to both lowland and mountain gorillas. The latter live in the tropics. They are few in number. There are less than 700 individuals left in nature.

There are about 100 thousand lowland gorillas. Another 4 thousand are kept in zoos. There are no mountain gorillas in captivity.

Being able to walk on their hind legs, gorillas prefer to move on all fours at once. In this case, the animals place their hands sideways, resting on the back of their fingers. Monkeys need to keep the skin of their palms thin and tender. This is necessary for proper sensitivity of the brushes and fine manipulation of them.

Sumatran rhinoceros

He is the smallest among rhinoceroses. There are generally few large animals in the jungle. Firstly, it is easier for small creatures to get through the thickets. Secondly, the diversity of tropical species must fit into fertile but small areas.

Among rhinoceroses, the Sumatran is also the most ancient and rare. Animal life in the rainforest limited to the territories of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Here rhinoceroses reach one and a half meters in height and 2.5 in length. One individual weighs about 1300 kilograms.

Animals of the undergrowth

The undergrowth is slightly higher than the litter and already receives 5% of the sun's rays. In order to capture them, plants grow wide leaf blades. Their area allows them to capture maximum light. The height of representatives of the undergrowth flora does not exceed 3 meters. Accordingly, the tier itself is the same minus half a meter from the ground.

They fall on the canopy. Rainforest Animals in the undergrowth they are often medium-sized, sometimes medium-sized. The tier is inhabited by mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Jaguar

Lives in the tropics of America. The weight of the animal is 80-130 kilograms. In America this is the most big cat. The color of each individual is unique, like human fingerprints. The spots on the skins of predators are compared to them. Jaguars- excellent swimmers. Cats prefer to move through water by clinging to logs. On land, jaguars are also associated with trees. Cats drag prey onto them, hiding other contenders for meat in the branches.

Binturong

Belongs to the viverrid family. Externally, the binturong is something between a cat and a raccoon. The animal's relatives are genets and lysangs. Like them, the binturong is a predator. However, the touching appearance seems to cast off the fear of the animal.

Binturong lives in the tropics of Asia. Mostly Indian population. When dividing territories, binturongs mark their territories with a liquid that smells like roasted corn.

South American nose

Represents raccoons. The animal has a long and mobile nose. It, like the head of the beast, is narrow. The name of the species is associated with the nose, as a distinctive feature. You can meet its representatives in the tropics of South America.

There, noses, like jaguars, are excellent tree climbers. The noses have short, but flexible and mobile paws with tenacious claws. The structure of the limbs allows animals to descend from trees both backwards and forwards.

The nosoha climbs into the trees to get fruit and hide from danger. In her absence, the beast is not averse to strolling through the jungle floor. Digging with its clawed paws, the nose finds reptiles and insects. Being an omnivore, the animal hunts them.

Darter frog

Among the existing reptiles, poison dart frogs are the most colorful. On photo of tropical forest animals stand out with their indigo coloration. There are also turquoise and blue-black colors. It is not without reason that the frog stands out against the background of the surrounding nature, like a tropical bud.

The poison dart frog has no need to disguise itself. Among reptiles, the animal produces the most powerful poison. They don’t touch the frog, even if they see it in front of their nose. More often, predators and people recoil from the blue beauty, fearing poison. One frog injection is enough to kill 10 people. There is no antidote.

Dart frog venom contains 100 non-protein substances. It is believed that the frog gets them by processing the tropical ants that it feeds on. When poison dart frogs are kept in captivity on other food, they become harmless and non-poisonous.

Common boa constrictor

Similar to a python, but slimmer. The boa constrictor also does not have a supraorbital bone. Finding out what animals live in the tropical forest, it is important to “discard” the Argentine boa constrictor. It settles in arid and desert places. Other subspecies live in the tropics.

Some snakes hunt in water. In America, where rivers and lakes are occupied by anacondas, boa constrictors obtain food on the ground and trees.

The common boa constrictor in the tropics often replaces the cat. Residents of jungle settlements lure snakes, allowing them to live in barns and warehouses. There boa constrictors catch mice. Therefore, the snake is considered partially domesticated.

flying dragon

This is a lizard with skin projections on the sides. They open when the animal jumps from the tree, resembling wings. They are not attached to the paws. Movable, rigid ribs open the folds.

The flying dragon descends into the jungle floor only to lay eggs. There are usually from 1 to 4 of them. Lizards bury their eggs in fallen leaves or soil.

Rainforest Canopy Dwellers

A tropical canopy is otherwise called a canopy. It is composed of tall, broad-leaved trees. Their crowns form a kind of roof over the litter and undergrowth. The height of the canopy is 35-40 meters. Many birds and arthropods hide in the treetops. There are 20 million species of the latter in the tropical canopy. There are fewer reptiles, invertebrates and mammals at altitude.

Kinkajou

Represents the raccoon family. Kinkajou lives in America. In the tropics, the animal settles in the crowns of trees. The kinkajou moves along their branches, clinging long tail.

Despite the slight similarity and lack of relationship with clubfoot, the animals are called tree bears. It's about diet. Kinkajou loves honey. The animal obtains it using its tongue. It reaches 13 centimeters in length, allowing it to climb into hives.

Malayan bear

Among bears, he is the only one who almost never descends to the ground; he lives in the trees. The Malayan clubfoot is also the smallest in its order. The bear's fur is shorter than that of other Potapychs. Otherwise, representatives of the Malayan species would not be able to live in the tropics of Asia.

Among bears, the Malayan clubfoot has the longest tongue. It reaches 25 centimeters. The animal's claws are also the longest. How else to climb trees?

Jaco

One of the smartest parrots. Like a real intellectual, Gray is modestly “dressed.” The bird's plumage is gray. Only the tail has red feathers. Their shade is not flashy, but rather cherry. You can see birds in the jungle Africa. Rainforest Animals continent are successfully kept in captivity and often become news heroes.

Thus, a Gray Gray named Baby from the USA remembered the names of the robbers who broke into his owner’s apartment. Birds gave the thieves' information to the police. Jaco, who knew about 500 words, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. different languages. The bird spoke in coherent sentences.

Koata

Otherwise called spider monkey. The animal has a tiny head, a massive body against its background, and long, thin limbs. When the koata extends them between the branches, it looks like a spider waiting for prey. The black, shiny fur of the animal, like fluff on the bodies of arthropods, is also confusing. The coata lives in South and Central America. With a 60-centimeter body length of a monkey, its length

the tail is 90 centimeters.

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Rainbow toucan

A large bird up to 53 centimeters long. With its massive and long beak, the toucan reaches for fruits on thin branches. If a bird sits on them, the shoots will not survive. A toucan weighs about 400 grams. The animal's beak is colored green, blue, orange, yellow, and red. The body is mostly black, but there is an extensive lemon-colored patch on the head with a red scarlet border on the neck. Even the irises of the toucan’s eyes are colored, turquoise. It becomes clear why the species is called rainbow. The colorful appearance of the toucan is combined with the fruit variety of the tropics. However, the bird can also feast on protein foods, catching insects and tree frogs. Sometimes toucans eat the chicks of other birds.

Golden-helmed kalao

The largest among the birds of the tropics of Africa. The bird weighs approximately 2 kilograms. The golden-helmeted animal is named due to the feathers sticking out on its head. They seem to be raised, forming a semblance of armor from the times of the Roman Empire. The color of the feathers is golden.

There is a patch of bare skin on the neck of the kalao. It is slightly saggy and wrinkled, like that of a vulture or turkey. The kalao is also distinguished by its massive beak. It is not for nothing that the bird belongs to the hornbill family.

Three-toed sloth

What animals are in the rainforest the slowest? The answer is obvious. On land, sloths move at a maximum speed of 16 meters per hour. Animals spend most of their time on the branches of trees in the African jungle. There are sloths hanging upside down. The animals sleep most of the time, and leisurely chew the leaves for the rest.

Sloths not only feed on vegetation, but are also covered in it. Animal fur is covered with microscopic algae. That's why sloths are greenish in color. Algae are plants of water bodies. From there the sloths took "tenants".

Slow mammals are good swimmers. During the rainy season, sloths have to

melt from tree to tree

Upper tropics

Animals of the tropical rainforest the upper tier live at an altitude of 45-55 meters. At this mark there are single crowns of particularly tall trees. Other trunks do not strive higher, because they are not adapted to stand alone in the face of the winds and heat of the sun.

Some birds, mammals, and bats also fight them. The choice is determined either by the proximity of the food supply, or by the availability of an overview of the area, or by moving to a safe distance from predators and dangers.

Crowned eagle

Among birds of prey he is the largest. The animal's body length exceeds a meter. The wingspan of the crowned eagle is more than 200 centimeters. Distinctive feature The species is a crest on the head. In moments of danger or fighting spirit, the feathers rise, forming something like a crown.

The crowned eagle lives in the jungles of Africa. You rarely see birds alone. Crowned birds live in pairs. Animals even fly around their domains together. The eagles’ “allotment,” by the way, is approximately 16 square kilometers.

Giant flying fox

The muzzle of this bat looks like a fox. Hence the name of the animal. His fur, by the way, is reddish, which also reminds of foxes. Soaring in the sky, the flyer opens his wings to 170 centimeters. The giant fox weighs more than a kilogram.

Giant flying foxes are found in Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Fruit bats live in flocks. Flying in groups of 50-100 individuals, foxes terrify tourists.

Royal colobus

Belongs to the monkey family. It differs from other colobus monkeys by white markings on the chest, tail, and cheeks. The monkey lives in the jungles of Africa, growing to 60-70 centimeters in length, excluding the tail. He is 80 cm.

Colobuses rarely descend to the ground. Monkeys spend most of their lives on

treetops where they feed on fruits.

Conclusion:

Wildlife of the rainforest- this is fierce competition not only for space, light, but also food. Therefore, it is in the jungle that species are found that eat food that the inhabitants of other places do not even consider as food.

What about eucalyptus leaves, for example? They contain a minimum of nutrients, but there are enough poisons, and only koalas have learned to neutralize them. Thus, the animals of the species provided themselves with an abundance of food, for which they did not have to fight.

Jungle, or scientifically, tropical forests, from the treetops to the forest floor, are filled with life. Found here animals, about each of which you can write a separate report: a crocodile, an anteater, a hippopotamus, a bat, a sloth, a koala, a chimpanzee, a porcupine, a gorilla, and an armadillo. Insects: termites, tropical butterflies, mosquitoes. Tarantula spiders, hummingbirds and parrots. Hundreds of species of plants, birds, and animals feel comfortable in the tropical forest.

Select a report about a tropical forest dweller:

What does "tropics" mean?

The tropics are the forests that grow near the equator. These forests are the most important ecosystem on Earth. The coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil, the South American shores, the islands of the West Indies, part of Africa, the island of Madagascar, and some Asian countries and the Pacific Islands are occupied by tropical thickets. The tropics make up only 6 percent of the landmass.

High humidity and hot climate- the main features of the fabulous diversity of forms of local life. Constant warmth, frequent, heavy, short-lived tropical downpours contribute to rapid growth and flora development. And the fauna, thanks to the abundance of water, also does not suffer from drought. Tropical forests have red or spotted soils, and the forest itself is multi-tiered, with each level densely populated. Such a diversity of flora and fauna is possible due to ideal living conditions.

Who lives in the tropical forest and how?

The wilds of the forest are inhabited by a variety of animals. Giant elephants and small insects, birds and animals of medium size, can live simultaneously in one area of ​​the forest, but at different levels, finding shelter and food in the forests. No other place on land has such a wealth of ancient life forms - endemics. Thanks to the dense foliage cover, the undergrowth in the rainforest is weak and animals can move freely.

The diversity of animals in the tropical forests is amazing: along with reptiles (turtles, crocodiles, lizards and snakes), there are many amphibians. The abundance of food attracts herbivores. Predators come after them (leopards, tigers, jaguars). The color of the inhabitants of the tropics is rich, since spots and stripes help to better camouflage in the forest. Many species of ants, tropical butterflies and spiders provide food for hundreds of bird species. The tropics are home to the largest number of monkeys on the planet, there are more than one and a half hundred parrots, and 700 species of butterflies, including giant ones.

Unfortunately, many representatives of the jungle fauna (antelope, rhinoceroses, etc.) were exterminated by humans during colonialism. Now many animals that previously lived freely in tropical forests remain only in nature reserves and zoos. Human destruction of forests leads to a reduction in fauna and flora, soil erosion, and loss of the ecological balance of our planet. Tropical forests - the "green lungs of the planet" - have been sending us a message for decades that signals that humans must be held accountable for their actions.

If this message was useful to you, I would be glad to see you

On Earth, which supports a huge amount of fauna. One of the reasons for such a wide variety is the constant warmth. Tropical rainforests also contain vast reserves of water (2,000 to 7,000 mm of rainfall annually) and a variety of food sources for animals. Many small animals, including monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards and insects, found in tropical forests have never set foot on land. They use tall trees and undergrowth for shelter from predators and to find food.

Because there is a huge diversity of animals (40-75% of Earth's animal species) competing for food, many species have adapted to eat certain foods that others do not. For example, toucans have a long, large beak. This adaptation allows the bird to reach fruits on branches that are too small to support the bird's weight. The beak is also used to extract fruit from trees.

Sloths use behavioral adaptations and camouflage to survive in the rainforest. They move very, very slowly and spend most of their time hanging upside down. Blue-green algae grows on their fur and gives sloths their greenish color and also protects them from predators.

This article examines the structure of the rainforest and some of the animals that live in its layers, from the forest floor to the upper layer.

forest floor

The forest floor is the lowest layer of the rainforest, receiving only about 2% of sunlight. Thus, the plants growing here are adapted to low light conditions. Thus, the lower layer of the rainforest is home to relatively large animals such as okapi, tapirs, Sumatran rhinoceroses, etc. A large number of reptiles, insects, etc. are also found in this layer. Organic substances (plant and animal origin) are collected in the forest floor, where they decompose, such as and.

Okapi

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni listen)) is a unique species of mammal that is native to the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Although okapi have characteristic zebra-like stripes on their limbs, they are more closely related to giraffes. Okapi are diurnal and solitary in nature. These rainforest animals feed on tree leaves and buds, fruits, ferns, and mushrooms.

Tapir

Tapir ( Tapirus sp.) - pig-like herbivorous mammals with a short, prehensile snout. These rainforest animals are found in the forests of South and Central America, as well as Southeast Asia.

Sumatran rhinoceros

One of the five extant species of rhinoceros, ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) lives in the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra. This is the most small view rhinoceroses in the world and has two horns. The Sumatran rhino is on the verge of extinction as poachers actively hunt for its horns, which are used to prepare traditional medicines in China and Vietnam.

Western gorilla

Western gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla) is found in the forests of Central Africa. These animals are extremely intelligent and can use tools to obtain large amounts of food. The western gorilla is now critically endangered. Hunting for gorilla meat and the reduction of their natural habitat are two of the main threats to these amazing primates.

Undergrowth

The rainforest understory lies between the forest floor and the canopy, and it receives only about 5% of the sunlight. This level is home to a large number of small mammals, birds, reptiles and predators such as the jaguar. The undergrowth contains small trees, shrubs and grasses. Typically, plants at this level rarely reach 3 m in height and usually have wide leaves to provide more surface area for the plant.

Jaguar

(Panthera onca ) is the largest species in the Americas, and the third largest in the world after and. The jaguar prefers to live in tropical forests and is distributed from Central America to Argentina and Paraguay. It is very similar to a leopard, but more muscular and larger. The jaguar is a solitary superpredator in which it lives.

Tree frogs

About three species of frogs from the dart frog family are deadly. The terrible leaf climber is considered the most dangerous among the three species and one of the most poisonous animals on Earth. These frogs have bright colors including gold, red, green, blue and yellow to protect them from predators. This feature is known as aposematic coloration.

South American nose

Also known as coati ( Nasua nasua ), this animal lives in the tropical forests of South America. Most of the range is in the lowlands east of the Andes. This is a diurnal animal that lives both on the ground and in trees. The diet includes fruits, other small animals and bird eggs.

Common boa constrictor

Common boa constrictor ( Boa constrictor) is a massive snake that is found in forests throughout the Americas, as well as on the islands of the Caribbean. Although boas live in a wide range of habitats, they prefer tropical forests due to the high humidity and suitable temperature. Additionally, rainforests provide ample shelter and plenty of food sources for these snakes.

Forest canopy

The forest canopy (or canopy) is the most distinctive level of the rainforest, forming a roof over the understory and forest floor. The canopy contains most of the largest trees in the rainforest, growing up to 30-45 m in height. Broad-leaved evergreen trees dominate the canopy, making it the densest part of the rainforest. It is home to over 20 million species and a large number of birds, as well as mammals, invertebrates and reptiles.

Jaco

Jacos, or African gray parrots ( Psittacus erithacus) are medium-sized, gray-black birds common in equatorial Africa. The birds are currently classified as Near Threatened and number between 120,100 and 259,000.

Rainbow toucan

Rainbow toucan ( Ramphastos sulfatus) distributed in tropical forests of Latin America. In this environment, it settles in tree holes, often with other toucans. Crowded roosting sites force toucans to tuck their beaks and tails under their bodies to save space.

Koats

Koats are a genus belonging to the family of spider monkeys. They live in the tropical forests of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil. All seven koat species are endangered to some extent. These primates live in large groups about 35 individuals and are divided into smaller groups to search for food during the day.

Three-toed sloths

Three-toed sloths are a family of arboreal mammals found in South and Central America. These rainforest animals are so named because of their slow gait, which is an adaptation to conserve energy. Sloths have the body size of a small dog or large cat, and have three clawed toes on each limb.

Golden-helmed kalao

Golden-helmeted kalao ( Ceratogymna elata) lives in the tropical forests of West Africa. It is one of the largest birds in this environment and lives in forest canopies and rarely feeds on the ground. Birds of this species live in small family groups, consisting of an adult pair and several chicks.

Kinkajou

The kinkajou is one of the rainforest animals that is mistaken for a monkey or ferret. The tropical forests of Central and South America are considered the homeland of kinkajou. These nocturnal animals are arboreal and have an omnivorous diet. Unfortunately, they are hunted for their valuable wool.

Upper tier

At this level of the rainforest there are several giant trees reaching heights of about 45-55 m or even higher. Thus, these trees rise above the canopy. They are well adapted to withstand strong winds and high temperatures over the canopy. When such trees die, holes are formed in the canopy, allowing sunlight reach the lower layers of the tropical forest.

Crowned eagle

Crowned Eagle ( Stephanoaetus coronatus) is a massive and fierce carnivore common in the upper layer of tropical forests. The eagle primarily feeds on mammals, including small ungulates, small primates, birds and lizards. It is one of the largest eagles in Africa, but is now classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to large-scale habitat destruction.

Royal colobus

Royal colobus ( Colobus polykomos) is one of the rainforest animals that is found in the tropical forests of Africa in countries such as Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast. The royal colobus lives in the upper layer of the forest, but feeds Typically on land, 3 to 4 females and 1 to 3 males form one social group together.

Giant flying fox

Giant flying fox ( Pteropus vampyrus) is one of the largest bat species in the world. It lives in tropical forests, where it feeds exclusively on nectar, fruits and flowers. Although these bats do not have the ability to echolocate, they use their keen vision to locate food sources.

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