Which Animals Live in Rainforests?

Insects

From creepy and crawly to colorful and beautiful, insects make up a huge portion of the animal population of rainforests. Most people are familiar with the ants, caterpillars, dragonflies, and moths that inhabit the land. A number of different butterflies are found in the rainforest including the Goliath birdwing, with wing spans up to 11 inches, monarch, gorgeous blue morpho, Queen Alexandra's, with wing spans up to one foot, Saturn, and the swallowtail. Another popular insect is the assassin bug which eats other insects.

Lizards, Reptiles, and Amphibians

Crawling through the ground, dangling from the trees, and swimming in the waters are a plethora of alligators, anacondas, caiman crocodiles, emerald tree boas, frogs, iguanas, turtles, red-eyed tree frogs, snakes, toads, and other such creatures. One particularly interesting breed is the chlamydosaurus or the frilled lizard. Circling its head is a seven to 14 inch brightly colored frill, which it uses to frighten away its enemies.

Birds

Birds soar through the sky in forests, and generally reside in the upper layers of the trees, otherwise known as the canopy. Popular species are the owl, cuckoo, the toucan with its gigantic and colorful beak, the long feathered quetzal, and xenops.

Monkeys and Gorillas

Primates are particularly popular in the rainforests, and one may never even be able to guess how many different types there are roaming through the lands! Of course, there are the well known gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and monkeys. Closely related to the chimpanzee, bonobos are very smart and peaceful creatures that also reside in rainforests. Anyone who sees a siamang, a long-armed, black ape, is very lucky because the species is rather rare.

Other Creatures

Creating a comprehensive categorical list of every animal that lives in the rainforest is difficult, if not impossible, because of the wide varieties of species living in such areas. However, there are still some more animals to be explored.

Perhaps one of the most popular and well known faces of the rainforest is that of the sloth. These furry little creatures spend the majority of their lives hanging upside down from trees, and remain in this position for almost all of their daily activities including sleeping, eating, mating, and giving birth. Tarsiers are almost koala like beings with furry bodies and gigantic eyes, particularly for their small frames.

Large cats, so to speak, such as the jaguar, ocelot, serval, and tiger hunt on the rainforest floor in search of prey. In southeast Asia, the dark, furry binturong can be found searching for fruits and small animals. Bats soar through the air, and piranhas thrash through the waters. Rodents are also present in the rainforests, such as the capybara, the world's largest rodent, mice, and rats.

Conclusions

Examining which animals live in rainforests is both a familiar and new adventure. Many people know that monkeys and jaguars roam through the rainforests; however, some have not even heard of such creatures as the serval and tarsier. Learning about the vast ecosystem of the rainforest is integral to understanding the importance of the environment in general.

Separating the rainforest from the rest of the world is impossible, especially in a time where environmental concerns are on the rise due to problems such as deforestation and global warming. Taking a step back and examining the natural beauty of the rainforests reminds people that these animals' lives are not only important to their own food and life systems, but that they are also beautiful components of the world that are worth fighting for.