Animals and Plants of the Rain Forest

Because tropical rain forests are some of the oldest ecosystems on globe, they are domicile to a diverse population of plants and animals. In fact, around 50% of the world'southward country-domicile plants and animals can be found here — with new species still existence discovered.

Pelting Woods Animals

Throughout all the different layers of a tropical rain forest, you'll detect a wide variety of animals. Most of usa think of monkeys when we recall of pelting forests. Other rain forest mammals include sloths, tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, kinkajous, lemurs and agouti.

The warm, moist environs is also an ideal habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Many types of frogs, salamanders, snakes and lizards can be found in virtually every layer of the forest.

Butterflies and moths are plentiful in the torrid zone every bit well. Many migrate, wintering in a pelting forest and spending summers in our backyards.

Picture of a Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak

These pretty blue birds with the sweetness voices are seen in California, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, and New Jersey s.

They commonly wintertime in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Republic of honduras, and Nicaragua. They are occasionally seen as far south equally Ecuador.

More Birds

Rain Woods 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 habitation in the forests year-circular.

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

Rain Wood Plants

Over 200,000 species of plants thrive in pelting forests. This abundance is due to the warm, humid surround and includes some of the nigh beautiful and interesting flora:

  • orchids
  • rubber 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 woods plants piece of work to provide nutrient and shelter for rain forest animals as well every bit convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Competition at ground level for light and food has led to some unique institute evolution. Some plants live on the branches of other plants and use "air roots" to describe nourishment from the air. Others, similar the strangler fig, will wrap themselves around (and ultimately strangle) large trees to fight for survival.

Beyond beauty and interest, tropical rain wood plants contribute to modern medicine. Information technology is believed that approximately 25% of all Western medicines on the market today come from plants plant only in tropical pelting forests. This includes treatments for a variety of cancers, malaria, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure and more. Simply in that location is still and then much untapped potential. Co-ordinate to Michael Blalick, managing director of the Institute of Economic Phytology (role of the New York Botanical Garden), of all the known found species, "less than three pct take been tested for their medical applications."