The Rainforest: Weird Rainforest Animals, Facts, and Resources
In order to be categorized as a rainforest, a biome must receive have more than 200 days of rain per year, or as much as 240 inches of water accumulation. Most of the world’s rainforests are found along the equator, where temperatures range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and sometimes warmer. At least fifty percent of the northern region of South America is comprised of rainforest. Most of Central America and parts of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australia also are home to the world’s rainforest areas. Combined together, rainforests make up about seven percent of the Earth’s land surface.
The Importance of Rainforests for Animals and the Earth’s Climate
It is believed that some rainforests have been in existence for 100 million years. The rainforests play a vital role in the habitat of the living species, as at least half of the world’s plants and animals find their homes in this type of land. At least 1,600 species of birds and about one million kinds of insects live in the largest rainforest near the Amazon River in South America. The Amazon rainforest is approximately 2.5 million square miles in size, which is about the two-thirds the size of the United States. It also comprises about half of the entire rainforest land in the world. Some experts estimate that ninety-five percent of all the species on Earth are found in the rainforest. This diversity makes rainforests truly unique around the world.
Beyond the importance of the rainforest to animals and plants, the rainforest plays a vital role in the climate of the planet. Plant species and trees grow in dense populations in the rainforest. This vegetation absorbs the water from the soil and returns it to the air through a process called transpiration. At least half of that water is returned to the rainforest as rain. The rest of the water travels the warm currents of air to cooler sections of the Earth. Plants in the rainforest also use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while also releasing large amounts of oxygen back into the air. More about different and weird rainforest animals that kids can learn about.
The Layers of Life in the Rainforests
Rainforests are usually divided into horizontal layers according to the plants and animals that live in these different strata. The top-most layer includes the tallest of the trees, called emergents. Trees in this layer typically grow to be around 300 feet tall, extending themselves beyond the next layer of growth, the canopy. This is the most productive layer of the rainforest and includes trees that stand anywhere from 60 to 150 feet in height. They often have long branches and leaves that extend over one another, creating an umbrella over the lower parts of the forest. The leaves, trees, and branches grow so close together that the rainfall only reaches the ground by running down the tree trunks and plant stems. This canopy area is home to many animals of the rainforest including tree frogs, monkeys, bats, birds, and reptiles.
Below the canopy is the area of rainforest called the understory. This area is home to many smaller trees, ferns, vines, and bushes. The upper canopy of the rainforest traps a lot of the heat and moisture, and as a result, the understory is extremely hot and humid. The canopy is so thick that the understory doesn’t get much light, so flowering plants are not commonly seen below the canopy level. The lower-most layer, the bottom layer, is the floor of the rainforest. This layer is filled with mosses, herbs, fungi, and decaying plants and animals. This layer decomposes quickly, acting as a natural compost rich with nutrients for the roots of the tall plants above. Thousands of insects that feed on decaying matter live on the floor of the forest.
The Three Types of Rainforests Around the World
There are three primary types of rainforests around the world: tropical, mangrove, and temperate. Tropical forests are like the ones found in South America, near the equator, and are the wettest regions in the world. Some tropical rainforests have wet and dry seasons, while others are situated at the top of tropical mountains. Mangrove rainforests are found along the ocean coasts in tropical regions. Temperate rainforests are found in cooler climates along the western coasts of North and South America. They can also be found in Australia and New Zealand. Temperate rainforests are home to many of the “old growth” forests. Some of these old-growth forests, like the sequoia trees of northern California, have been around for more than 1,000 years.
The Threats of the Rainforest and Why it is Important
Many small tribes have made their homes within the boundaries of the rainforests. Many of them have lived within those areas for thousands of years. However, developers who are encroaching upon the rainforests pose both an ecological and anthropological threat to the tribes that live in the area. About 50 million acres of rainforests disappear each year. That is the equivalent of 90 acres every minute. The trees are harvested and the land is cleared to make way for farm development or new road construction. In many cases, trees are cut down and simply burned, a process called “slash and burn.” This process creates smoke pollution and releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, contributing significantly to global warming.
The decrease in the amount of vegetation of the rainforest areas also increases the likelihood for flooding and the erosion of valuable topsoil. Animals, who make their homes in the trees, leaves, and shrubs, no longer have a place to go. As a result of the deforestation process, significant numbers of species become extinct each year.
Weird Animals of the Rainforest
The rainforest is home to half the world’s animals. It’s only natural that a handful (or quite a bit more) are a bit odd, right? Check out the following list of animals that hang out in the rainforest and have developed some interesting physical or other characteristics that set them apart from what might be considered ‘normal’. Read more about why rainforests are an important part of the ecosystem.
1. Pygmy Marmoset
Also known as: Dwarf Monkey, Pocket Monkey, Little Lion
Native to: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Size: 120-140g, full grown
The pygmy marmoset is one of the smallest marmosets in the rainforest. Its is an omnivore and its diet consists of fruit, leaves, insects and small reptiles. Its primary food intake consists of tree sap, as the animal has special teeth for digging into tree bark to extract the sap.
Typically, this species lives between 11 and 12 years in the wild, and longer if kept in captivity. They live in families of a male and female and their offspring.
2. Thersphosa Blondi
Also known as: Goliath Birdeating Spider
Native to: Rainforests of South America
Size: 120-140g, full grown
The Goliath Birdeating Spider received its name by Victorian era explorers who saw one of the tarantulas consume a hummingbird. Frightening. At up to 11 inches long, it’s not doubtful that this carnivorous arachnids consume small mammals such as rodents, lizards, bats and snakes on a regular basis. However, more commonly their diet consists of insects and invertebrates.
They typically create their home near swamps, and burrow underground, creating their own tunnels, or inhabiting abandoned burrows of other animals.
An unforgiving species, the females mature and mate in 3 to 4 years, and kill their male companion shortly thereafter. The female then lays between 100 and 200 eggs, and goes on to live between 15 and 25 years.
Lucky for humans, the tarantula is relatively harmless and has only been known to bite when provoked. The venom in the Birdeater’s fangs is similar to that of a wasp or bee’s sting.
3. Aye-aye
Also known as: Lemur
Native to: Madagascar
The Aye-aye is part of the lemur family. It’s defining characteristic is the unique way in which is forages for food. The animal has a long, thin finger on each hard, which it uses to peck holes in trees that it climbs and clings too. It’s goal is to drive grubs out of their homes in the trees, and eat them.
Because its diet is found in the trees, the Aye-aye typically resides at the tops of trees, up to 700m above the rainforest floor. A nocturnal creature, it typically sleeps during the day and emerges at night to hunt for grubs.
They are typically solitary, searching for food along, however those in overlapping territories are not hostile towards either other. Male Aye-aye’s typically occupy a territory of about 80 acres, while females roam about 20 acres on average.
After two Aye-aye’s mate, the male often remains close by to ensure the safety of their offspring, until the baby lemur has reached a certain maturity. The infant is typically closer to their mothers, who wrestle, chase and play peek-a-boo with their child to teach basic coordination and motor skills.
4. Okapi
Also known as: Zebra Giraffe, Rainforest Zebra
Native to: Ituri Rainforest, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Size: 4.9 to 6.6 feet tall (440 to 660 lbs)
Let’s face it; the Okapi looks like an unfortunate confused mating of a zebra and a giraffe. The animal resembles a giraffe with a short neck that stepped in zebra striped paint.
The animals are primarily a solitary species, living between 500m and 1000m above sea level. Mating is brief, and the mother then raises the offspring on her own or with other mature females.
To find food, the animal typically follows packed trails through the rainforest. They are herbivores and primarily feed on leaves, buds, grass, ferns, fruit and fungi. The animals also feed on reddish clay near rivers, which satisfies their nutritional need for sodium and other minerals.
5. Hoatzin
Also known as: Hoactzin, Stinkbird, Canje “Pheasant”
Native to: Amazon and Orinoco Delta, South America
Size: 25″ long
The Hoatzin is a tropical bird that lives in rainforest swamps in South America. It has a characteristic long neck and small head, and is brown with lighter feathers on its chest. One unusual trait that the bird has, is claws at the ends of four of its wing feathers.
The Stinkbird is an herbivore, and primarily feeds on leaves, flowers and fruit, and due to its unique digestive system, gives off a foul smelling odor when eating. Lucky for the bird, its unattractive smells wards off potential predators, who will only choose to eat the bird under the most dire circumstances.
Hoatzin birds bread during the rainy season in the rainforest, and they nest in small colonies above swamps, feeding their chicks regurgitated food. The baby birds have a unique defense mechanism, and when threatened, they will drop out of their nests to the water below, and climb back up the tree with their clawed wings.
6. Birds of Paradise
Native to: New Guinea
Size: 5.9 inches to 17 inches
Birds of paradise are an extremely varied species, and a relative of the crow and jay families. The smallest type is the King Bird-of paradise, and the largest is theBlack Sicklebill. The length of tail, shape of wings, capacity of wings to make sound, and bills are all different based on the specific type of Bird-of-paradise.
The birds typically live in rainforest swamps and moss forests and feed on fruit and arthropods.
Birds of paradise are most well known for their elaborate mating rituals and dances. An otherworldly event, the transformation from bird to seemingly alien-like species is quite unbelieveable.
7. Proboscis Monkey
Also known as: Monyet Belanda, Bekantan, Dutch Monkey Long-Nosed Monkey
Native to: Southeast Asia, Borneo Island
Size: Males: 28″ in length; 53 lbs
Females: 23″ in length; 28 lbs
The Proboscis Monkey’s most striking characteristic is it’s obnoxiously large nose. This appendage is assumed to be attractive to females, and can reach up to 7 inches. The females have large noses as well, but not quite as dramatic as their male counterparts. In addition to this, the nose swells with blood when the animal is angry or alarmed, causing its calls to be louder and reach further.
The animals live in small groups between 10 and 32 strong. A friendly species, the monkeys regularly transfer between groups throughout their lives.
Because of a unique digestive system, the Proboscis Monkey is unable to digest ripe fruit, and feeds instead on a diet of seeds, leaves, mangrove shoots and unripened fruit.
8. Tarsier
Also known as: Dwarf Monkey, Pocket Monkey, Little Lion
Native to: Southeast Asia (Philippines, Sulawesi, Borneo, Sumatra)
Size: 120-140g, full grown
Although they only exist in Southeast Asia at present, Tarsier fossils have been found in Asia, Europe and North America as well. Their most unique physical characteristic is their enormous eyes, each as large as their brain. Their hind limbs, for which they are named, are twice as long as their body and head.
The animals are nocturnal, but they do display some activity during the daytime as well. They are they only entirely carnivorous primate in the world, and typically eat insects, small birds, snakes, lizards and bats.
Mature Tarsier females give birth to a single infant at a time. Young Tarsiers are quick to learn to climb, and are nimbly jumping between trees within a day of birth.
9. Chrysopelea
Also known as: Flying Snake
Native to: Southeast Asia, Melanesian Islands, India
The flying snake, as it is commonly known, is a mildly venomous snake that is not harmful to humans. They received their nickname based on a misconception. The snake cannot actually fly, however they do glide from tree to tree. The snake pushes against the tree bark and poises itself at the end of a tree branch, aiming at its target. It hurls its body up and away from the tree while flattening its body to make it twice as wide as normal. They curl their body in a concave c-shape, which increases the air pressure below the body of the snake, increasing lift.
10. Three-Toed Sloth
Native to: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Size: 7-10 lbs
Three-Toed Sloths are tree dwelling mammals, and move between trees up to four times a day. This occupies most of their day, as their maximum speed, from which they derive their name, is 0.15 miles per hour! The sloths are excellent swimmers, and maintain a faster speed in the water.
Female sloths give birth to one offspring at a time, and typically rear the baby sloth for up to a year.
They dwell in low-lying shrubs and lower tree layers. Their fur typically has a green hue because algae grows on the long strands. This doubles as a camouflage for the sloth, which blends well into the tree it hangs onto with its extremely long claws.
Quick Rainforest Facts
Tropical rain forests play an important role in the earths ecosystem. Plants found only in the rainforest supply people all over the world with different types of medication. Unfortunately, due to deforestation the tropical rainforests are slowly being destroyed and new plants, trees, and wildlife are not being replenished to offset this destruction. Below are some key questions about the rainforest and resources to help you learn about the good and the bad regarding tropical rainforests.
Where are rainforests located?
Rainforests are located near the equator, in the section of the earth called the tropics. These areas are on the continents of Africa, South America, Asia, and the islands around Australia.
Layers of the tropical rainforest
The rainforest consists of four layers. These layers, in order of highest to lowest, are the emergent layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer, and the forest floor.
Insects of the rainforest
Of the millions of species of animals found in the rainforest, most are insects. An impressive half-million of these are beetles.
People of the rainforest
There are approximately 50,000,000 tribal people who call the tropical rainforest home. Three of the most well-known tribes in the rainforest are the Pygmies in Africa, the Huli in Papua New Guinea, and the Yanomami in South America.
Why the rainforest is important
There are several reasons why rainforests are so important. First, rainforests control the climate of the entire earth. As the rainforest disappears, carbon is released into the atmosphere. This creates global warming. Approximately one fourth of the plants used in common medications can be found only in the rainforest. Also, the rainforest is responsible about 20% of the world’s fresh water supply.
Saving the rainforest
In recent years, the importance of saving the rainforest has become well-known. Some ways that each person can contribute to protecting the rainforest include recycling, conserving energy, and using only organic fertilizers and pesticides.
Soils of the rainforest
The soils of the rainforest are often red or yellow. The soil itself is poor for growing; the reason that so much plant life grows so abundantly is due to the rapid breakdown of nutrient-rich vegetation.
Survival in the rainforest
It is possible to survive in the rainforest for an extended period of time. There are many edible plants to eat. Wearing appropriate clothing will protect one from insects, sunburn, and other hazards.
Pictures of the rainforest
Tropical rainforests are breathtakingly beautiful. The wildlife is exotic to those who do not live in tropical climates. Unfortunately, the destruction of the rainforests has made some areas less visually appealing.
Tropical rainforest of the Amazon
The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon Rainforest, is located in South America. The Amazon is home to 10% of the world’s species of animals, and about 40,000 species of plants.
Tropical rainforest of Australia
The rainforests in Australia are home to gorgeous waterfalls, plant, and animal life.
More Resources about the Rainforests
Cal Tech University Information on Rainforests Around the World
Rainforest Reading Guide and Lesson Plan
“Rainforests.” World of Biology. Gale, 2010. Gale Science In Context. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.
List of Popular Prehistoric Animals
I am an aspiring artist and writer from Phoenix Arizona. I enjoy golfing, skiing, college football, and hanging out with my two favorite girls (my wife and 4 year old daughter).
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