Introduction
Tropical rainforest are teeming with life. There are numerous species of mammals, reptiles, and birds found in the tropical rainforest throughout the world. In fact it is estimated that these regions are where half of all animal species in the world live. On this page you will find a list of interesting tropical rainforest animal facts. For specific information about some of the amazing animals who inhabit these regions, including how they have adapted for survival, read the pages within this section of Interesting Animal Facts.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about rainforest animals.
Interesting Tropical Rainforest Animal Facts
- Almost all of the worlds tropical rain forests lie close to the equator. These forests are known for their tall trees, dense vegetation, and for being humid and wet. There are four layers in a tropical rainforest biome (Forest Floor, Understory Layer, Canopy Layer, and Emergent Layer) and there are animals that have adapted to living in each one (or more) of these layers.
- There are so many animals living in tropical rainforest that scientist believe there are many that have not been discovered yet.
- The reason there are so many animals inhabiting the worlds tropical rainforest is that the conditions are optimal for survival. There is plenty of food and water, there is shade from the heat, and plenty of shelter from the rain.
Tropical Rainforest Animal Adaptation Facts
- Many animals of the rainforest are camouflaged which aids them in avoiding predators. An example of this is the South American three-toed sloth. This animal has fur covered with green algae which is perfect camouflage in the forest canopy. Other animals use camouflage to hide in wait for prey. One such predator is the Boa Constrictor.
- One adaptation quite the opposite of camouflage is that of the brightly colored poison arrow frogs and poison dart frogs. The bright colors of these species serve as a warning to predators not to eat them. These frogs are so poisonous that natives wipe their arrow heads on them to make them more lethal.
- Some animals have adaptations that enable them to eat food that other animals can't. For example parrots have strong beaks that crack the shells of very hard nuts.
List of Some Tropical Rainforest Animals
Tropical Rainforest Floor Layer Animals
The forest floor receives very little light and is teeming with insects and decomposing plants and animals. Large snakes and large mammals, too heavy for the upper layers, roam this area. These include:- Anteaters
- Armadillos
- Golden Lion Tamarins
- Sumatran Rhinoceros
- Pythons
- Anacondas
- Tigers
- Jaguars
- Leopards
Tropical Rainforest Understory Layer Animals
This layer of the forest, which is under the thick forest canopy, is characterized by little light, short trees, and short plants. Animals that have adapted to this layer include:- Bats
- Tree Frogs
- Salamanders
- Emerald Tree Boas
Tropical Rainforest Canopy Layer Animals
This layer of the rainforest, characterized by numerous tangled tree branches and leaves which block most of the sunlight, is by far the most populated layer. Bird and monkey species are among the most common animals found here. These include:- Toco Toucans
- Macaws
- Sloths
- Howler Monkeys
- Spider Monkeys
- Gibbons
Tropical Rainforest Emergent Layer Animals
The Emergent Layer is the highest layer of a rainforest. It consist of a few trees that stick up above the canopy layer. Generally the only animals found this high are those that can fly such as birds and bats, including:- Harpy Eagles
- Pygmy Gliders