Animals and Plants of the Rain Forest

Because tropical rain forests are some of the oldest ecosystems on earth, they are home to a diverse population of plants and animals. In fact, around 50% of the world'south state-dwelling plants and animals can be found here — with new species notwithstanding being discovered.

Rain Forest Animals

Throughout all the different layers of a tropical pelting woods, you'll notice a wide diverseness of animals. Almost of us remember of monkeys when we think of rain forests. Other rain woods mammals include sloths, tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, kinkajous, lemurs and agouti.

The warm, moist environment is also an ideal habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Many types of frogs, salamanders, snakes and lizards tin can be constitute in well-nigh every layer of the forest.

Butterflies and moths are plentiful in the tropics as well. Many migrate, wintering in a rain forest and spending summers in our backyards.

Picture of a Bullock's Oriole
Bullock'south Oriole

This bird can be found in deciduous woodlands, shade copse, riparian forests, parks, and towns up to 8,000 feet in elevation.

Keen numbers winter in Mexico. Sometimes they can be seen in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Republic of costa rica.

More Birds

Rain Forest Birds

Rain forests are unequaled in their richness of bird species. Some birds—such as hummingbirds, harpy eagles, spectacled owls, toucans, macaws, quetzals, hornbills and finches—make their home in the forests year-round.

Others are temporary residents. Many of the songbirds we bask in our yards every summertime spend their winters in the rain forests of Mexico, Central America and South America—relying on the forest for refuge during the colder months.

Pelting Forest Plants

Over 200,000 species of plants thrive in rain forests. This affluence is due to the warm, humid environment and includes some of the most beautiful and interesting flora:

  • orchids
  • safety trees
  • poinsettias
  • cacao trees
  • Venus fly traps

  • passion flowers
  • peace lilies
  • brazil nut copse
  • mahogany trees
  • passion fruits

  • lianas
  • birds of paradise
  • strangler fig
  • quinine

All of the rain wood plants piece of work to provide food and shelter for rain wood animals also as convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Competition at footing level for light and food has led to some unique constitute evolution. Some plants alive on the branches of other plants and employ "air roots" to draw nourishment from the air. Others, like the strangler fig, will wrap themselves around (and ultimately strangle) big trees to fight for survival.

Across beauty and involvement, tropical rain forest plants contribute to modernistic medicine. Information technology is believed that approximately 25% of all Western medicines on the market today come from plants found only in tropical rain forests. This includes treatments for a variety of cancers, malaria, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson'south disease, high blood pressure and more than. Simply at that place is still then much untapped potential. Co-ordinate to Michael Blalick, director of the Institute of Economical Botany (part of the New York Botanical Garden), of all the known found species, "less than three percent have been tested for their medical applications."