Animals and Plants of the Pelting Forest

Considering tropical rain forests are some of the oldest ecosystems on earth, they are home to a diverse population of plants and animals. In fact, effectually 50% of the world's country-dwelling plants and animals tin be found here — with new species yet being discovered.

Rain Forest Animals

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

The warm, moist surround is besides an ideal habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Many types of frogs, salamanders, snakes and lizards can be establish in near every layer of the wood.

Collywobbles and moths are plentiful in the torrid zone as well. Many drift, wintering in a pelting forest and spending summers in our backyards.

Picture of a Song Sparrow
Vocal Sparrow

The Song Sparrow is i of the well-nigh widespread North American Birds. You lot'll see the 34 subspecies in areas ranging from mainland Alaska to the Carolinas.

In some populations, the males remain in their northern breeding grounds while the females and young migrate southward into Mexico. More Birds

Rain Forest Birds

Pelting 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 nosotros enjoy in our yards every summer spend their winters in the rain forests of Mexico, Key America and S America—relying on the forest for refuge during the colder months.

Rain Forest Plants

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

  • orchids
  • rubber copse
  • poinsettias
  • cacao copse
  • 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 forest plants piece of work to provide food and shelter for rain woods animals also as convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

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

Beyond beauty and interest, tropical rain forest plants contribute to modernistic medicine. It is believed that approximately 25% of all Western medicines on the market place today come from plants plant only in tropical rain forests. This includes treatments for a multifariousness of cancers, malaria, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson'south disease, high claret pressure and more. Merely there is still so much untapped potential. According to Michael Blalick, director of the Institute of Economical Botany (part of the New York Botanical Garden), of all the known plant species, "less than 3 percentage have been tested for their medical applications."