Animals and Plants of the Pelting Forest

Because tropical rain forests are some of the oldest ecosystems on earth, they are dwelling house to a various population of plants and animals. In fact, around 50% of the world's land-habitation plants and animals tin can exist found here — with new species still beingness discovered.

Rain Wood Animals

Throughout all the different layers of a tropical rain wood, you'll notice a wide diverseness of animals. Virtually of us think of monkeys when we call back of rain forests. Other rain forest mammals include sloths, tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, kinkajous, lemurs and agouti.

The warm, moist environment is likewise an ideal habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Many types of frogs, salamanders, snakes and lizards can exist establish in almost every layer of the forest.

Collywobbles and moths are plentiful in the tropics besides. Many migrate, wintering in a rain wood and spending summers in our backyards.

Picture of a Blue Grosbeak
Blueish Grosbeak

These pretty blueish birds with the sweet voices are seen in California, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, and New Bailiwick of jersey southward.

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

More Birds

Rain Forest Birds

Pelting forests are unequaled in their richness of bird species. Some birds—such every bit 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.

Rain Forest Plants

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

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

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

  • lianas
  • birds of paradise
  • strangler fig
  • quinine

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

Contest 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 draw nourishment from the air. Others, like the strangler fig, volition wrap themselves around (and ultimately strangle) large trees to fight for survival.

Beyond beauty and interest, tropical rain woods plants contribute to modern medicine. It is believed that approximately 25% of all Western medicines on the market today come up from plants found only in tropical rain forests. This includes treatments for a diversity of cancers, malaria, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson'south disease, high blood pressure and more. But in that location is still so much untapped potential. According to Michael Blalick, director of the Plant of Economic Phytology (part of the New York Botanical Garden), of all the known found species, "less than 3 percent have been tested for their medical applications."