No other terrestrial ecosystem on Earth plays as important a role as rainforests. From 50 to 75 percent of all species of the planet's fauna live in these territories, and millions of animals remain undiscovered. The striking biodiversity in these habitats has made them home to several of nature's most interesting creatures.
Jaguar
Jaguars are the real thunderstorm of the rainforests of Central and South America, as they represent the top predators in their family. They are the largest felines that inhabit the American continents, and the third largest in the world after tigers and lions. While most cats are known to have a dislike for water, jaguars, like tigers, are an exception. They have perfectly adapted to living in rain forests and feel in the water no worse than on land.
Okapi
This creature resembles a cross between a zebra and an antelope, and sometimes it is even mistaken for a unicorn. But okapi with such a unique appearance are not any of the above creatures. Their closest relatives are giraffes.
These cute and graceful animals live in the rain forests of Central Africa. They spend most of their time in pastures, eating leaves, buds, grass, ferns, and fruits with their unusually long, mobile, and sticky tongue. This organ is so dexterous that the animal is able to lick its eyelids, as well as to wash its large ears externally and internally.
Amazonian river dolphin
The Amazonian river dolphin is one of the five living species of river dolphins on the planet, and also the largest of them. These creatures inhabit the murky waters of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America, and can often be seen among the trees of flooded forests. In addition, these dolphins are often referred to as pink, as their skin is pinkish in random places.
Glass frog
You're not looking at an X-ray right now. The skin of these amazing translucent frogs, which can be seen in the rain forests of Central and South America, is so translucent that organs can be seen through it. It is believed that there are more than 150 species of this striking family of amphibians in the world.
Cassowary
Found in the rainforests of New Guinea and Northeast Australia, these colorful flightless birds look like flamboyant ostriches in blade-like hats. They are the third largest birds in the world (after ostriches and emus), and unlike many species of birds, females, as a rule, show brighter plumage, rather than males.
Igrunka
These little monkeys from the rainforest of South America can be considered the most glorious primates of all. In fact, these are the smallest monkeys in the world. About 22 species are known to exist, and each of them showcases extravagant variations of fluffy attire. Interestingly, they almost always give birth to twins.
Malay bear
The Malay bear is the smallest bear species in the world. It inhabits the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is one of only two species of bears that have adapted to life in the jungle (the second is the South American spectacled bear), and the only species that lives almost exclusively in trees. This creation features a bold orange U-shaped collar on the chest.
Anaconda
The anaconda, found in the rain forests and floodplains of South America, is the largest, heaviest and second longest snake in the world. This species has earned a solid place in second-rate horror films. Although not venomous, the anaconda is capable of killing a grown male by crushing it, although such attacks are extremely rare. The semi-aquatic lifestyle contributes in part to achieving such a huge size, and this snake is known to be an excellent swimmer.
Siamang
Siamangs are black-furred monkeys native to the forests of Southeast Asia and are essentially the largest gibbon species in the world. They are distinguished by a ball-shaped throat pouch, which they use to make loud screams. These sounds cannot be confused with anything else in the dense jungle, and are intended to define territorial boundaries between rival groups.
Fringed turtle
Probably, it is unlikely that in the world you can find a species of turtles with a stranger appearance. Fringed turtles can be seen in the rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins, they are sedentary and are characterized by a triangular flattened head and shell. Pieces of skin hang loosely from the neck and head of these reptiles, somewhat resembling wet leaves. In fact, the fringed turtle's strange shape resembles a piece of tree bark from a distance, which provides an excellent camouflage for the reptile.
Tropical forests are the "lungs" of our planet, the most precious treasure, "the great pharmacy of the Earth." For many years, it was believed that they produce colossal amounts of oxygen, but this turned out to be not the case, but the humid climate promotes impeccable air filtration and purification of pollution. A lot of medicinal plants grow in this zone, which have been used in folk and official medicine. Where a huge number of birds, predators, artiodactyls, amphibians live, they all somehow get along on the same territory, surprising travelers with their large numbers.
Distribution of tropical forests
It will immediately become clear where the rainforests grow, if we explain that they seem to "encircle" the planet along the Equator. They are located in the humid equatorial, dry tropical, temperate, representing a clear line, interrupted only by mountains and oceans. Vegetation changes depending on the air temperature and the amount of precipitation. Rainy areas are covered with evergreen flora, drier regions are characterized by deciduous plants, followed by savanna forests. In both South America and Africa, there are monsoon forests in the west, savanna forests in the east, and equatorial forests in the middle.
Forest levels
The description of the rainforest will be clearer if it is divided into tiers. There are four main levels. The topmost one is evergreen trees up to 70 m tall, they have green caps mainly only on top, but below there are bare trunks. These giants can easily withstand hurricanes, temperature drops, sheltering the rest of the tiers from bad weather. The main hosts here are eagles, butterflies, bats. Further there is a forest canopy consisting of 45-meter trees. The level of the crowns is considered the most diverse, about 25% of all insect species live here. Scientists agree that 40% of all plant species on the planet are located on this tier, although it has not been fully studied.
This is followed by the middle level, called the underbrush, snakes, birds, lizards live here, the number of insects is also huge. The forest floor layer contains animal remains and rotting plants. This stratification is more common in the humid tropics. For example, selva - the forests of South America - is divided into only three levels. The first is grass, low plants, ferns, the second is reeds, low shrubs, young trees, the third is 40-meter trees.
The dominant species of flora and fauna depend on where tropical forests grow. For example, mangroves are common in equatorial and tropical latitudes in the tidal zones of the sea coasts. Plants grow here that are accustomed to do without oxygen and feel great in salty soil. Their roots create an excellent habitat for oysters, crustaceans, and commercial fish species. On the slopes of the mountains, in the area of fog condensation, moss or fog forests grow, characterized by low night temperatures.
The arid regions are dominated by savannah and rainforest, but dry. The plants here are evergreen, but xeromorphic and undersized. In the regions of the equatorial and tropical zones with variable climates, variable moist forests grow, characterized by deciduous crowns and a small number of lianas and epiphytes. They are found in South America, Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Indochina.
Rainforest climate
In humid tropical forests, the air temperature ranges from 20 ° C to 35 ° C, it rains here almost daily, so the humidity is kept at 80%, and in some regions it reaches 100%. In the subtropics there is no pronounced seasonality, the temperature is characterized by stability. On the slopes of the mountains, where fogs are observed, it is warm during the day, and at night a sharp cooling to 0 ° C is possible. The climate of the rainforest varies depending on the belt. In the tropics, there is high temperature and low humidity, at the equator there is a lot of moisture and very hot, and in the subequatorial belt, the weather depends on the monsoons.
Trees of the tropics
Trees in the rainforest are very different from trees in the temperate zone. The peculiarity of their development is influenced by weather conditions, because there is no seasonality at the equator, it rains almost daily, and the air temperature is 25-35 ° С. If in Russia giants grow in several centuries, then 10-15 years are enough there. Each type of tree sheds its leaves within a strictly defined period, it can be once every six months, once every 2-3 years. They also bloom when they want, many representatives of the flora delight with flowers once a decade. The trees have mostly large, leathery leaves that are strong enough to withstand heavy torrents of rain. More than 600 species of bamboo, chocolate cola, marang, jackfruit, mango, etc. grow in the tropics.
Exotic shrubs
The question of whether there is a shrub layer in tropical forests remains rather controversial. It exists in the subtropical and temperate zones, but not in the equatorial zone. Of course, there are representatives of shrubs there, but there are very few of them and they will not create their own level. Together with them, herbaceous phanerophytes grow, preserving the trunk from one to several years, and undersized trees. This includes representatives of the scitamine, marat family, and also bananas. Most of the shrubs are dicotyledonous, their leaves are large, but tender.
Rainforest herbs
The virgin forests are inhabited by incredibly beautiful, bright, with an unusual appearance of birds. Each separate part of the world can boast of its own kind of birds. For example, in the tropics of Asia, turachi live, in appearance they resemble partridges, only slightly larger. They run fast, so in case of danger they do not take off, but flee with all their might. The forests are also home to bush chickens, pheasants, and regal peacocks. In the American tropics, you can find tinama - a poorly flying bird with short but very strong legs. Well, how can you not remember the bright, funny and talkative parrots, without which the tropics are not tropics. In addition, variegated pigeons, trogons, woodpeckers, flycatchers, hornbills live on the equator. In the forests of the Amazon there are hummingbirds, tanagra, rocky cockerels, cotings and many others.
Animals
The fauna of tropical forests is striking in its diversity and richness of species. The largest number is represented by a group of monkeys living high in trees and in impenetrable thickets. The most interesting of them are cebids, marmosets and arachnids of the family. Igrunkoids are characterized by a very small size, in length they reach no more than 15 cm, cebids can boast of a long tail, which they hook onto branches, and arachnid monkeys have flexible and long limbs.
But the fauna of tropical forests is not limited to monkeys alone, anteaters, sloths, porcupines also live here. Among the predators, representatives of felines predominate - jaguars, jaguarundis, ocelots, panthers, from the canine family - bush dogs. There are also ungulates - tapirs, spoke-horned deer. The rainforests are also rich in rodents - possums, marsupial rats, bats, agouti.
Amphibians of the tropics
Large and reptiles are also characteristic of the rainforest. Photos of exotic snakes, frogs, crocodiles, chameleons, lizards are no longer considered a rarity. Amphibians are found in all parts of the world, but they are most abundant in tropical rainforests, as they are attracted by heat and moisture. At the equator, they live not only in water, but also in trees, in the axils of leaves, in hollows. Salamanders live in the tropics, there are many poisonous snakes, water anacondas and land boa constrictors are widespread.
Insects
Looking at what animals live in the rainforest, it can be assumed that insects are no less bright, unusual and dangerous here. These small creatures of the tropics are attracted by the warmth, high humidity and a wide variety of food - animal remains, numerous plants. At the equator, you can find bees and wasps that are familiar to us, but here they differ in larger sizes and a bright, shiny color. Among them there are representatives with long legs, blue wings and a large body, they are able to tame large beetles and spiders. Bloated trunks are found on many shrubs - these are ant nests. Ants in the tropics protect plants by eating leaf-eating insects.
Beetles do not play a significant role in the life of tropical forests, but every traveler will be fascinated by their diversity and variegation. These insects are a natural decoration of this God-forsaken area. Of course, one cannot fail to recall tropical butterflies, only in South America there are more than 700 species of these beautiful creatures. Animals and plants of tropical forests represent a special world unknown to people. Researchers annually make their way deep into the thickets in order to lift the veil of secrets that this area keeps, to find new representatives of flora and fauna.
From gliding anacondas to waving blue morpho butterflies, rainforests are teeming with life - in fact, these precious ecosystems are home to 80 percent of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. The Rainforest Alliance is committed to protecting rainforests and biodiversity, including restoring degraded land, surrounding forests and protecting waterways. Here are 11 amazing rainforest animals that the Rainforest Alliance is helping to protect.
With its shiny, iridescent blue wings, Morpho's blue butterfly flies through the rainforest. The many “eyes” on its inner brown side fool predators into thinking it is a large predator.
These gentle ocean giants can be found in the warm waters of the southern United States, the Caribbean, and northeastern Brazil. These manatees can weigh up to 500 kg. and grow up to 3 meters in length.
The striking okapi, the closest relative of the giraffe, lives in the dense Ituri rainforest in Central Africa. A master of camouflage, his striped back and brown hide help him stay undetected by predators.
This sluggish animal lives exclusively on trees and feeds on leaves, branches and fruits. It moves so slowly that its coat takes on a green tint from the algae that grows on it. It can take a sloth a month to digest one meal.
Bearing a strong resemblance to the guinea pig, the Capybara is the largest rodent on Earth. Her weight can reach 65 kg., And growth up to 60 cm. She lives in dense vegetation that surrounds the water, and often jumps into water bodies to hide from predators. The capybara can hold its breath for up to five minutes.
One of the most iconic species of rainforest animals, the red macaw is a large parrot with bright red plumage and shiny blue and yellow feathers. Its powerful beak can open tough nuts and seeds. The red macaw is one of the few species that mate for life.
One of the brightest animals on the planet, the poison arrow frog uses its color to alert predators of the toxic poison that lies inside its skin. Indigenous cultures often use the frog's venom to coat the arrowheads used for hunting.
The black howler monkeys get their nickname because of their loud howls, which they use to mark territory. These screams, which sound like a strong wind blowing through the tunnel, can be heard up to 3 km away. Black Howler monkeys live high in rainforests, in groups of 4 to 19 individuals.
It is the largest of all anteaters and can be found in grasslands, swamps and wet forests from southern Belize to northern Argentina. Its long, sticky tongue can pop out abruptly 150 times a minute, allowing it to easily consume 30,000 insects a day.
The green anaconda is one of the largest snakes in the world, reaching over 9 meters in length, 30 cm in diameter and weighing over 220 kg. Due to its size, it is rather bulky on land, but very secretive in the water.
Praying Mantis is a camouflage master that blends and mimics the foliage around it. It uses its keen eyesight and powerful forelimbs to catch and devour prey.
Rainforests are found in a wide belt that surrounds the Earth at the equator and is torn apart only by oceans and mountains. Their distribution coincides with the area of low pressure, which occurs when rising tropical air is replaced by moist air coming from the north and south, and forms an area of intratropical convergence.
The rain forest is the reaction of flora to high temperatures and abundant moisture. At all times, the average temperature should be between approximately 21 ° C and 32 ° C, and the annual rainfall should exceed 150 centimeters. Since the sun is approximately at its zenith throughout the year, climatic conditions are constant, which is not found in any other natural zone. The rainforest is often associated with large rivers that carry away excess rainwater. Such rivers are found on the South American island continent, on the African subcontinent and on the subcontinent of Australia.
Despite the constant dropping of dead leaves, the soil in the rain forest is very thin. The conditions for decomposition are so favorable that humus cannot form. Tropical rain leaches clay minerals from the soil, preventing essential nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates, potassium, sodium and calcium from accumulating in the soil, as is the case in temperate soils. Tropical soils only contain the nutrients found in the decaying plants themselves.
On the basis of the rainforest, many options are formed, which are the result of both climatic differences and the characteristics of the environment. The gallery forest is found where the forest ends abruptly, as on the banks of a wide river. Here, branches and leaves form a dense wall of vegetation that reaches the ground to benefit from outside sunlight. Less lush monsoon forests exist in areas where there is a pronounced dry season. They are common along the edges of the continents, where prevailing winds blow from dry areas at some part of the year, and are typical of the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Australian subcontinent. The mangrove forest is common in areas of salty sea bogs along muddy coasts and at river estuaries.
There are no dominant tree species in the rainforest as in other forest habitats. This is due to the fact that there is no seasonality, and therefore the number of insect populations does not fluctuate; insects that feed on a certain type of tree are always present, and destroy the seeds and seedlings of this tree if they are sown nearby. Therefore, success in the struggle for existence awaits only those seeds that have been transferred some distance from the parent tree and the insect population constantly existing on it. In this way, an obstacle arises for the formation of thickets of any one type of tree.
Rainforest areas have increased markedly since the Age of Man. In the past, human agricultural activities played a significant role in the damage to tropical forests. Primitive societies cut down a section of forest and exploited the cleared areas for crops for several years until the soil was depleted, forcing them to move to another area. In the cleared areas, the original forest did not recover immediately, and several thousand years passed after the extinction of mankind, before the rainforest belt returned to some semblance of its natural state.
TROPICAL FOREST LAYOUT
A world of planning, climbing and clinging creatures
The rainforest is one of the richest habitats on earth. High rainfall and a stable climate mean that there is a constant growing season here, and therefore there are no periods when there is nothing to eat. Abundant vegetation stretching upward to reach the light, although continuous, is very clearly divided into horizontal levels. Photosynthesis is most active at the very top, at the level of the forest canopy, where the tops of the trees branch out and form an almost continuous cover of greenery and flowers. Under it, sunlight is highly diffused, and this habitat consists of the trunks of higher trees and the crowns of those trees that have not yet reached the forest canopy. The undergrowth is a gloomy kingdom of shrubs and grasses that sprawl in different directions to make the best use of the little sunlight that makes its way here.
Although a huge number of plant species support the existence of an equally diverse number of animal species, the number of individual individuals of each is relatively small. This situation is exactly the opposite of that which develops in such harsh habitats as the tundra, where, due to the fact that few species can adapt to the conditions of the area, there are much fewer species of both plants and animals, but incomparably more individuals of each of them. As a result, the population of rainforest animals remains stable and there are no cyclical fluctuations in the number of both predators and their prey.
As with any habitat, birds of prey, eagles and hawks are important tree tops predators. The tree-dwelling animals of these places must be agile enough to escape from them, as well as to evade the tree-climbing predators attacking from below. The mammals that do this best are primates: monkeys, broad-nosed apes, and great apes, and lemurs. Long-armed zidda Araneapithecus manucaudata from the African subcontinent took this specialization to the extreme, and she developed long arms, legs and fingers, so that she became a brachiator, that is, swinging on her hands, throwing her small rounded body among the branches of trees at great speed. She also developed a prehensile tail, like her South American cousins of the first half of the Age of Mammals. However, its tail is not used for locomotion, but only to hang from it while resting or sleeping.
Flying monkey Alesimia lapsus, a very small monkey, similar to a marmoset, has adapted to a gliding flight. The development of this adaptation took place in parallel with the evolution of many other mammals, in which, in the course of evolution, a flying membrane developed from folds of skin between the limbs and tail. To support the airfoil and withstand the stresses of flight, the spine and limb bones have become unusually strong for an animal of this size. Steering its tail, the flying monkey makes very long gliding jumps between the crowns of the tallest trees in order to eat fruits and termites there.
Probably the most specialized species among the arboreal reptiles of the African rainforest is the chaintail. Flagellanguis viridis Is a very long and slender tree snake. Its broad, grasping tail, the most muscular part of its body, is used to latch onto a tree while it lies in ambush, curled up and camouflaged among the foliage in its tallest canopies, awaiting an inadvertently flying bird. The snake can "shoot" up to three meters, which is equal to about four-fifths of its body length, and grab prey, firmly holding onto the branch with its tail.
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LIVING ON TREES
The evolution of life in danger
For most of the Age of Mammals, monkeys have enjoyed a certain safety of life on the tops of the trees. Although there were a number of predators there, no one was strictly specialized in hunting them - but this was the case before the advent of the striger.
This fierce little creature Saevitia feliforme, descended from the last of the true felines about 30 million years ago, and settled in the rain forests of Africa and Asia; its success is closely related to the fact that it is as well adapted as its prey to life in the trees. The striger even developed a physique similar to that of the monkeys that it feeds on: a long, slender body, forelimbs capable of swinging up to 180 °, a prehensile tail and fingers on the fore and hind extremities that can oppose and grasp branches.
With the advent of the striger, the arboreal fauna of the rainforest has undergone significant changes. Some sluggish leaf-eating and fruit-eating animals were completely exterminated. Others, however, were able to evolve in the face of a new threat. Usually, if the environmental factor turns out to be so radical that it seems to be brought in from the outside, a rapid evolutionary leap occurs, because now the advantages are given by completely different signs.
This principle is demonstrated by the armored tail Testudicaudatus tardus, similar to a lemur half-monkey with a strong armored tail, protected by a number of overlapping horny plates. Before the appearance of tree-dwelling predators, such a tail was evolutionarily disadvantageous, reducing the success of foraging. Any tendencies leading to the evolution of such a cumbersome adaptation could be quickly discarded by natural selection. But in the face of constant danger, the importance of successful foraging becomes secondary to the ability to defend, and thus creates favorable conditions for the evolution of such an adaptation.
In itself, it is a leaf-eating animal that slowly moves along the branches with its back down. When the strigger attacks, the armored tail unhooks and hangs, catching on the branch with its tail. Now the armored tail is out of danger - the part of its body available to the predator is too well armored to be vulnerable.
Khiffa Armasenex aedificator Is a monkey whose protection is based on its social organization. She lives in groups of up to twenty individuals, and builds defenses on the branches of trees. These large hollow nests, woven of twigs and creepers and covered with a waterproof leaf roof, have multiple entrances, usually located where the main branches of the tree pass through the structure. Most of the food gathering and building work is done by females and young males. Adult males keep aloof from this, they protect the reinforcement and have developed a unique set of traits to fulfill their very specialized role: the horny carapace on the face and chest, and the terrible claws on the thumb and forefinger.
Females do not know what it is like to tease a strigger running past and allow her to be pursued to the very fortification, to burst into safety, while the strigger following her is stopped by a powerful male who can gut him with one wave of his terrible claws. This seemingly mindless behavior, however, provides the colony with fresh meat, a welcome addition to a largely vegetarian diet of roots and berries. But only young and inexperienced strigers can be caught in this way.
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UNDERGROWTH
The gloomy zone of forest life
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LIFE IN WATER
Inhabitants of tropical reservoirs
The largest aquatic mammal in the African swamps - silt Phocapotamus lutuphagus... Although descended from an aquatic rodent, it exhibits adaptations that have evolved in parallel with those of the extinct ungulate, the hippopotamus. It has a wide head, and the eyes, ears and nostrils are located on the bulges in its upper part so that they can still work even when the animal is completely submerged in water. Ilohloth eats only aquatic plants, which it scoops up with its wide mouth, or pulls it out of the silt with its tusks. It has a long body, and its hind legs have merged together to form a fin, giving the animal an external resemblance to seals. Although very clumsy out of the water, it spends most of its time in muddy shallows, where it reproduces and rears its offspring in noisy colonies near the water's edge.
A less well-adapted, but nevertheless, successfully living in water species is the water monkey Natopithecus ranapes... Derived from talapoin, or pygmy monkey Allenopithecus nigraviridis During the Age of Man, this creature evolved into a frog-like body with webbed hind legs, long clawed toes on its front legs for catching fish, and a ridge along its back to maintain balance in the water. Like a illoglot, its sense organs are shifted upward on the head. It lives in trees growing near water, from which it dives to fish, which forms the basis of its diet.
Terrestrial animals that switched to aquatic life usually did so to escape from terrestrial predators. Perhaps that is why water ants began to build their huge nest on rafts in swamps and quiet backwaters. This nest is made of twigs and fibrous plant materials, and is made waterproof with a putty of dirt and glandular secretions. It is connected to the shore and floating food depots by a network of bridges and roads. However, with their new lifestyle, ants are still vulnerable to the aquatic anteater. Myrmevenarius amphibius, which evolved in parallel to them. This anteater feeds exclusively on water ants, and in order to get close to them unnoticed, it attacks the nest from below, tearing apart the waterproof shell with its clawed flippers. Since the nest is made up of separate chambers below the water level, which can immediately become watertight in case of danger, little damage is done to the colony as a whole. There are, however, enough ants that drown during an attack to feed the anteater.
Fish-eating birds such as the big-toothed kingfisher Halcyonova aquatica, often found along watercourses of tropical swamps. The kingfisher's beak is strongly serrate, with toothed outgrowths that help to prick the fish. Although he can neither fly, like his ancestors, nor hover over water and dive, as they did, he mastered "underwater flight", chasing his prey in its own habitat. After catching a fish, the kingfisher floats to the surface of the water and swallows it in the throat sac before bringing it to the nest.
Wood duck Dendrocygna volubaris Is an aquatic creature that seems to have changed its mind about its preferred habitat and is in the process of transitioning back to the more arboreal lifestyle of its distant ancestors. Although it still has a duck appearance, the membranes on its paws are reduced, and its rounded beak is more suitable for feeding on insects, lizards and fruits than aquatic animals. The wood duck still escapes from predators in the water, and its offspring do not go to land until they become almost adult.
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AUSTRALIAN FORESTS
Marsupial dart frogs and marsupial predators
Its tongue has a bristly tip.
The undergrowth of the vast rainforest of the Australian Subcontinent is home to numerous marsupial mammals. One of their most common and successful species is the omnivorous marsupial pig. Thylasus virgatus, a marsupial analogue of tapir. Like its placental prototype, it roams the gloomy undergrowth in small herds, sniffing and digging for food in a thin layer of soil with the help of a flexible sensitive snout and tusks sticking out. The protective coloration helps it hide from predators.
The largest animal in the Australian forest, and in fact, the largest animal in the rainforest of the world is the giant. Silfrangerus giganteus... This animal descended from kangaroos and wallabies inhabiting the plains, which were quite common when most of the continent was an arid savanna, and its origin is betrayed by its erect posture and characteristic jumping mode of movement. The giant is so large that at first glance it seems poorly adapted to life in the cramped conditions of the tropical forest undergrowth. However, her large stature gives her the advantage of being able to feed on leaves and shoots that are out of reach of other forest dwellers, and her massive build means that shrubs and small trees do not impede her movement. When the giant makes its way through the thickets, it leaves behind a clearly visible trail, which, until it disappeared due to the natural growth of the forest, is used as a road by smaller animals like a marsupial pig.
The convergent evolution taking place in the Australian subcontinent is not unique to marsupials. Fat snakes Pingophis viperaforme descended from one of the many species of snakes that have always been a feature of the Australian fauna, has acquired many of the characteristics of forest land vipers, such as the Gabonese viper and the long-lived rustling viper Bitis that are found elsewhere in the Northern Continent. These include a thick slow-moving body, and a coloration that makes it completely invisible in the litter of the undergrowth. The neck of the fat snake is very long and flexible, and allows the head to get food almost independently of the body. His main method of hunting is to ambush her with a venomous bite, where he is hiding. Only later, when the poison finally kills the prey and begins its digestive action, the fat snake picks up and eats it.
Australian bowerbirds have always been famous for their fantastic buildings, which were built by males to court females. Hawk bower Dimorphoptilornis iniquitus this is no exception. Its structure itself is a rather modest structure, containing a simple nest and a small altar-like structure in front of it. While the female incubates the eggs, the male, a bird quite similar to a hawk, catches a small animal or reptile and places it on the altar. This offering is not eaten, but serves as a bait to attract flies, which the female then catches and feeds to the male to ensure that his cares continue during the long incubation period. When the chicks hatch, the chicks are fed by the larvae of the flies that develop on the rotting carrion.
Another curious bird is the earthen termite Neopardalotus subterrestris... This mole-like bird constantly lives underground in termite nests, where it digs out nesting chambers with its large paws and feeds on termites using a long and sticky tongue.
The tropics occupy less than 2% of the earth's surface. Geographically, the climatic zone runs along the equator. The latitude of 23.5 degrees is considered the limit of deviation from it in both directions. More than half of the planet's animals live in this belt.
Plants, too. But, today in the lens of attention rainforest animals... Let's start with the Amazon. The area covers 2,500,000 square kilometers.
These are the largest tropics of the planet and, in combination, its lungs, whose forests produce 20% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. There are 1800 species of butterflies in the forests of the Amazon. Reptiles of 300 species. Let's dwell on the unique ones that do not live in other areas of the planet.
River dolphin
In addition, they differ in color. The backs of animals are gray-white, and the underside is pinkish. The older the dolphin, the lighter its top. Only in captivity, the endemic does not become snow-white.
Amazon dolphins live with humans for no more than 3 years. Sexual maturity occurs at 5. So, the offspring in captivity, zoologists did not wait and stopped torturing animals. As you can imagine, there are no Amazonian endemics in any third-party dolphinarium in the world. In their homeland, by the way, they are called inya, or bouto.
River dolphin or inya
Piranha trombetas
Trombetas is one of the tributaries of the Amazon. What are the animals in the rainforest instill terror? In the series of names, for sure, there will be. There are cases when they gnawed at people.
A lot of books have been written on this topic, films have been made. However, a new species of piranha prefers grass, algae, to flesh. On a dietary feed, fish eats up to 4 kilograms. The length of the rambetas piranha reaches half a meter.
Trumbetas piranha
Red-bearded (copper) jumper
It is included in interesting rainforest animals only 3 years ago. A new species of monkey was discovered in the Amazon jungle in 2014 during an expedition organized by the World Wildlife Fund.
In the "lungs of the planet" they found a new species 441-yin. There is only one mammal among them - the red-bearded jumper. classified as broad-nosed. Presumably, there are no more than 250 jumpers in the world.
Animals are monogamous, having formed a pair, do not change and live separately with their children. When the jumpers are happy with each other, they purr, which makes them stand out from other monkeys.
Pictured is a copper jumper monkey
Possibly lost
In Latin, the name of the species sounds like Alabates amissibilis. This is the smallest one. A species on the verge of extinction. The difficulty of detecting it is also related to its size. Alabates are frogs about the size of a fingernail.
They are beige and brown with stripes on the sides. Despite the tiny size, the frogs of the species are poisonous, so they are not suitable for French cuisine, even if it were not for the protected status.
The smallest frog Alabates amissibilis
Herbivore dracula bat
Looks intimidating, but vegetarian. Dracula is flying. On her face there is a skin outgrowth called the nasal leaf. When combined with wide-set, slanting eyes, the outgrowth creates an intimidating look.
We add large and pointed ears, compressed lips, gray color, bony. It turns out an image of nightmares. Actually, herbivorous devils are active at night. During the day, animals hide in the crowns of trees or caves.
Herbivorous bat dracula
Fire salamander
Species names, while generalized, refer to. It was their relative who was found in the tropics near the Amazon. The scientific name of the species is Cercosaura hophoides. The lizard has a red tail.
The body is dark with thin yellowish veins. Scientists have suspected the existence of the species for a long time. A clutch of eggs of an unknown reptile was found on the lands of Colombia.
However, neither dad nor mom could be found. Perhaps found in 2014 is the parent of the masonry. Zoologists assume that Cercosaura hophoides is no more than a hundred years old.
In the photo is a fire salamander
Okapi
The population is on the verge of extinction. This is a rare species of giraffe. Pygmies showed it to Western zoologists. It happened in 1900. However, this conversation is already about the endemics of the African jungle, in particular, the forests of the Congo. Let's go under their canopy.
Outwardly, this giraffe looks like a horse with an elongated neck. In contrast, the neck of an ordinary giraffe is short. But the okapi has a record-breaking language. The length of the organ allows you not only to reach the luscious foliage, but also to rinse your eyes animals. Rainforest world okapi also enriched with the blue color of the tongue.
As for the color of the coat, it is chocolate. Transverse white stripes are visible on the legs. Combined with dark brown, they are reminiscent of zebras.
Okapi are gentle parents. These animals living in the rainforest, they love children dearly, they do not take their eyes off them, they protect them to the last drop of blood. Considering the number of okapi, it cannot be otherwise. The species is listed in the Red Book and each cub is worth its weight in gold. Several giraffes are not born. One pregnancy - one child.
Tetra Congo
This is a fish of the haracin family. There are almost 1,700 species in it. Congo is found only in the basin of the river of the same name. The fish has a bright blue-orange coloring. It is expressed in males. Females are “dressed” more modestly.
The fins of the species resemble the finest lace. The length of the Congo reaches 8.5 centimeters, they are peaceful. The description is ideal for aquarium fish. Endemic is really kept at home. Congo loves dark soil. One fish needs about 5 liters of soft water.
Tetra Congo fish
Balis shrew
Refers to shrews, lives in the east. The area is 500 square kilometers. The minks of the animal are not found along their entire length, but only in 5 localities. All of them are destroyed by man.
The animal has a conical nose, an elongated body, a bare tail, and gray short fur. In general, for the majority, yes a mouse. The problem of her survival is that the animal does not last more than 11 hours without food. In conditions of danger and hunger, the latter wins. While the shrew is catching the insect, others catch it.
The balis shrew mouse
African marabou
Refers to storks. For its peculiar gait, the bird was nicknamed the adjutant. He is ranked among the largest birds. This refers to the flying species. African grows up to 1.5 meters.
At the same time, the weight of the animal is about 10 kilograms. A bare head eases the figure a little. The absence of feathers reveals wrinkled skin with a massive outgrowth on the neck, where the bird, in a sitting state, folds an equally massive beak.
Appearance, as they say, is not for everybody. It is not for nothing that the animal is made the hero of many phantasmagoric books, where the bird inspires, at least, awe. An example is Irwin Welch's Nightmares of the Marabou Stork.
Now, let's move on to the Asian tropics. They are also filled with rare animals. At first glance, the names of some of them are familiar. On the island of Sumatra, for example, they are proud. The fact that she is unusual is indicated by the prefix to the name of the beast.
Pictured is an African marabou
Bearded pig
The animal looks like a cross between a wild boar and an anteater. The elongated nose, resembling a trunk, helps to reach the leaves, pluck fruits and fish fallen fruits from the forest canopy.
It swims well, also uses its nose during spearfishing. Its main function is also in place. Smell helps to find mating partners and recognize danger.
Tapirs are distinguished by long bearing of cubs. They give birth approximately 13 months after conception. More than one offspring is not born. At the same time, the life span of tapirs is maximum 30 years.
It becomes clear why the species is dying out. Despite the protected status, tapirs are a welcome prey ... for,. Decreases the population and deforestation.
Panda
Not a single list is complete without it " rainforest animal names". The endemic to China lives in bamboo groves and is a symbol of the country. In the West, they learned about it only in the 19th century.
Zoologists of Europe have long argued whether to refer to raccoons or bears. Genetic tests helped. The animal is recognized as a bear. He leads a secretive life in three provinces of the PRC. This is Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu.
The pandas have 6 toes. One of them is just an appearance. This is actually an altered wrist bone. The number of teeth grinding plant food is also off scale.
A person has 7 times less. I mean, pandas have more than 200 teeth. They are involved about 12 hours a day. Only 1/5 of the eaten leaves are absorbed. Considering that pandas do not hibernate, tropical forests are saved only by the rapid growth of bamboo a couple of meters a day and the small number of bears themselves.
Let's complete the journey. Her tropical belt also affects. The continent is deserted. Tropical forests grow only along the coasts. Their eastern part is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let's find out for what such curiosities.
Helmet cassowary
This is a bird of the ostrich order, it does not fly. The name of the species is Indonesian, translated as "horned head". The skin outgrowth on it resembles a crest, but flesh-colored. There is also a semblance of earrings under the beak. They are scarlet, but thinner and more elongated than that of a rooster. The feathers on the neck are indigo-colored, and the main color is bluish-black.
Colorful looks are combined with power. A case was recorded when a person was killed with a kick. It is because of the cassowaries that a number of Australian parks are closed to the public.
The birds are not aggressive under normal conditions. Protective reflexes make themselves felt. The force of the blow is predictable at 60 kilograms of weight and a height of one and a half meters. Legs are the strongest part of cassowaries, like other ostriches.
Helmet cassowary
Wallaby
The second name of the species is arboreal. At first glance, it looks more like a bear. Thick, dense coat covers the entire body. The bag is not immediately visible. By the way, the cub can stay in it for an indefinite time.
During periods of danger, they are able to postpone childbirth. Physiologically, they should pass a maximum of a year after conception. It happens that a child dies before waiting in the wings. Then, a new embryo comes to replace, the first to become stillborn, not obliging to take care of oneself.
Scientists are pinning their hopes on the tree kangaroos for the salvation of mankind. The stomach of the endemic is capable of processing methane. In the event of global warming, this will come in handy not only for wallaby, but also for people.
They are also racking their brains over thermoregulation of tree kangaroos. The species manages to maintain a comfortable body temperature in the heat. Not a single individual has yet died from overheating, even without shade and plentiful drink.
Woody wallabies are called due to their lifestyle. Observation of animals has shown that most of them die on the same plant where they were born. Here the hunters found the wallaby.
The raid on the endemic was announced because of the legend that one day the beast attacked a child. This has not been documented, however, the population is in danger.
The animal's conservation status helped to stop the extermination. Several tens of thousands of individuals are not enough to save humanity. Therefore, to begin with, they will be saved and multiplied.
Tree kangaroo wallaby
Koala
Without her, as in Asia without the panda, the list would be incomplete. - the symbol of Australia. The animal belongs to wombats. These are marsupials with two incisors. The colonialists of the continent mistook the koalas for bears. As a result, the scientific name of the species phascolarctos is translated from Greek as "bear with a sack."
Like pandas addicted to bamboo, koalas only eat eucalyptus. Animals reach 68 centimeters in height and 13 kilograms of mass. Found the remains of an ancestor of koalas, which was almost 30 times larger.
Like modern wombats, the ancients had two thumbs on each paw. The fingers set aside help to grip and rip off branches.
Studying the ancestors of koalas, scientists have come to the conclusion that the species is degrading. In the head of modern individuals, 40% of the cerebrospinal fluid. Moreover, the weight of the brain does not exceed 0.2% of the total mass of marsupials.
The organ doesn't even fill the cranium. The ancestors of koalas were like this. Zoologists believe that the reason is the choice of a low-calorie diet. Although, foliage is eaten by many animals that are distinguished by their quick wits.
I recall the beginning of the article, where it is said that the tropics are less than 2% of the earth's surface. It seems a little, but how much life. So koalas, although they are not distinguished by intelligence, inspire entire nations.
And, what the hell is not joking, in the presence of animals it is better not to talk about their mental abilities, suddenly offend. Koalas are partially blind, and therefore have excellent hearing.
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