ANIMALS IN TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Tropical rainforests are found in Western Ghats and Assam in India, Southeast Asia, Central America and Central Africa. Because of continuous warmth and rain, this region supports wide variety of plants and animals. The major types of animals living in the rainforests are monkeys, apes, gorillas, lions, tigers, elephants, leopards, lizards, snakes, birds and insects. Let us read about the adaptations of these animals to a hot, humid climate. The climatic conditions in rainforests are highly suitable for supporting an enormous number and variety of animals. 

• The tropical regions on the earth are the regions which are close to the equator and hence receive more amount of sunlight during the year.

• Because of this, these areas have a hot climate.

• The temperature in tropical regions can be as high as 40^o C and can drop until 15 ^o C only.

• The length of the day and night are almost equal in these regions.

• However, there is a lot of rainfall and so the tropical rainforests are found in this region.

• The Tropical rainforests are home to a wide variety of vegetation and animals.

• Due to large habitation, the animals often compete for food in these regions.

• Many animals have adapted themselves so that they can live on the trees and find their food easily. The skin colour of these animals is generally similar to that of the surroundings so that they can catch their prey easily and protect themselves from the predators. Also, many of these animals have a good eyesight and better sense of hearing.Different animals found in the tropical rainforests and their features:

  Animals
  Adaptation
   
  The red-eyed frog
  It has a sticky feat so that it can climb up on the trees easily.
  Figure 12: The red-eyed frog
  The monkeys
  They have long tails so that they can climb the trees easily.
  Even their hands and feet have a structure that helps them in holding the branches of the trees easily.
  Figure 13: Monkey in Tropical Rainforest
  Toucan Birds
  The Toucan birds adapt themselves so that they can find food easily.
  The Toucan bird has a large and long beak with which it can reach the food that is found on weaker branches as well.
   
  Figure 14: Toucan Bird
  Lions and Tigers
  They have thick skin, sharp eyesight and sensitive hearing.
  Figure 15: Tiger in Tropical Rainforest
  The lion-tailed macaque (beard ape)
  The beard ape lives generally on the trees in the tropical forest because it can find its food easily on them such as insects, seeds, fruits, leaves, flowers and stems.
  The beard ape also has a silver-white mane that starts from its head to its cheek.
  Figure 16: The lion-tailed macaque (beard ape)
  Elephants
  The elephant found in the tropical rainforest also have adapted themselves according to the climate.
  Its huge trunk gives it a nice sense of smell and helps in picking the food easily.
  The elephant also eats the bark of the trees. The tusks or large teeth of elephant allow it to clear the bark of the trees.
  The large ears of the elephant allow it to hear sensitive sounds that make it easier for it to protect itself from predators.
  The ears also protect the elephant from the hot and humid climate of the rainforests