What Are Arboreal Animals?

Arboreal animals live and dwell in trees. A variety of animal species are considered arboreal animals. These species consider trees to be their home base, and find shelter, food and protection among the branches. It is unknown how many species of animals are considered arboreal, but some professionals estimate there may be about 25,000 kinds of tree-dwelling species.

  1. Monkeys

    • Monkeys are one of the main types of arboreal animals; many types of monkeys live, play, eat and sleep in trees. The howler monkey is one example of an arboreal animal. The howler monkey is native to central and South America. It prefers to live in a tropical atmosphere. Howler monkeys live in troops and are known for their howling noises, which are made to notify other monkeys that a troop already lives in the area.

    Birds

    • Many types of birds are considered arboreal animals. Two main species of birds that are considered arboreal are the bald eagle and the great horned owl. The bald eagle is unique to North America, and is the National Emblem of the United States. Most bald eagles in the wild live in the trees of the state of Alaska. The great horned owl was discovered in the Virginia colonies, and can live in a variety of climates including forests and deserts.

    Reptiles

    • Some reptiles are known to be arboreal animals. The main reptile that is known for its tree-dwelling is the iguana. Iguanas live in the jungles of central and South America, as well as the Caribbean islands. Typically iguanas live in the tree canopy of the South American rain forest. They enjoy the canopy of the rain forest because they benefit from forest living while still being able to sunbathe. Iguanas rarely venture down to the forest floor.

    Other Animals

    • One unique arboreal animal is the coati. Coatis are raccoonlike creatures that hail from the southwestern United States and sometimes Argentina. Several coatis will sleep in a nest, which is located in the trees. Coatis are active during both the day and night. Likely because of their arboreal habits, the coatis are excellent climbers and are often seen at the tops of trees. Another arboreal animal is the binturong. The binturong is a slothlike mammal that lives in the tress of southeast Asia. It looks like a cross between a cat and a bear and is a nocturnal animal that spends its time hunting for fruit in the trees.