Animals in a Rainforest Biome

The rainforest is a hot, wet biome that can be found near the equator in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Since the weather is constantly moist and warm, this biome supports the greatest biodiversity in the world; over 15 million plants and animals are found there. Part of the diversity of the rainforest is due to the competition for food, which required many animals to specialize to survive.

  1. Mammals

    • Millions of mammals inhabit the rainforest, such as jaguars, leopards, anteaters, sun bears, spider monkeys, tarsiers and lemurs. Some mammals have adapted to live mainly in the trees, such as the sloth that hangs upside down from branches and rarely sets foot on the ground.

    Reptiles

    • Snakes, lizards, crocodiles and turtles are reptiles that are spread throughout every micro-habitat in the forest. The adaptability of reptiles is demonstrated by the wide range of sizes--from a chameleon the size of a thumbnail to the black caiman, a member of the family Alligatoridae and the largest predator in the Amazon River. They can grow up to 20 feet in length.

    Amphibians

    • The poison-dart frog is the most recognized inhabitant of the rainforest biome, but they are not the only amphibians that live there. Hundreds of frog and salamander species share the forest. The red eyed tree frog rivals the poison dart frog in terms of color, with red eyes, blue body, orange feet and striped legs. These nocturnal frogs have suction cups on their feet that allow them to live in the trees.

    Birds

    • The birds of rainforest biomes have bright colors, loud vocalizations and special adaptations to eat specific foods. The toucan, for instance, has a very large beak to reach the fruits hanging from branches too small to support the bird's weight. Other birds found in rainforests include birds of paradise, cockatoos, parrots and hummingbirds.

    Insects

    • Insects, by far, have the largest diversity in the rainforests--sometimes there are 43 species of ants living on a single tree. Ants, butterflies, beetles, snails and spiders all fill a specific purpose in the biome.