Who lives in the rainforest animals. African rainforests

The rainforests are home to a huge number of animals. First of all it is. The species of narrow-nosed monkeys live in India and Africa, and the broad-nosed ones in America. Their tail and limbs allow them to masterfully climb trees, where they get their food.

Mammals

The rainforests are home to predators such as leopards and cougars.

An interesting species is the American tapir, somewhat reminiscent of a horse and a rhinoceros.

Nutria can be found in water bodies. People hunt for this species of large rodents, since they have valuable fur.

Nutria

In South American you can find sloths that resemble in appearance. They have rather long and flexible limbs with which they cling to trees. These are slow animals, they move slowly along the branches.

The forests are inhabited by armadillos with a powerful shell. During the day they sleep in their burrows, and with the onset of darkness they crawl to the surface and lead night image life.

Dweller rainforest is an anteater. He moves without problems on the ground, and climbs trees, eats ants and various insects.

Among marsupial species opossums can be found here.

Opossums

The African rainforests are home to elephants and, which are relatives of giraffes.

Elephant

Lemurs live in Madagascar, which are considered semi-monkeys.

Lemurs

In some bodies of water, crocodiles are found, among which the Nile crocodile is the most famous. In Asia, long-snouted crocodiles are known, which mainly swim in the Ganges. Its body length reaches 7 meters.

Rhinos are found in tropical forests, and hippos are found in water bodies.

Rhinoceros

hippo

In Asia, you can find a tiger, sloth bear, etc.

Birds of the rainforest

Many birds fly in the forests. South America is home to hoatsins, hummingbirds, and more than 160 species of parrots.

There are large populations of flamingos in Africa and America. They live near salt lakes and on sea coasts, feed on algae, worms and molluscs, and some insects.

There are peacocks in Asia and the surrounding islands.

Wild shrub chickens are found in India and the Sunda Islands.

Shrub chickens

Insects and reptiles of forests

There are many snakes (pythons, anacondas) and lizards (iguanas) in the rainforests.

A variety of species of amphibians and fish are found in the reservoirs, among them the piranhas are most famous in South America.

Piranha

The most important inhabitants of the rainforest are ants.

Spiders, butterflies, mosquitoes and other insects also live here.

Insect

Belt Wet tropical rainforest in Africa stretches for almost 5 thousand kilometers from west to east and about 1600 - from north to south. The Cameroon Upland - a mountain range of volcanic origin - separates the Guinean rainforest from the large woodlands Zaire and Gabon. Both parts of the forest are not very different from each other: the whole territory is occupied by dense evergreen tropical vegetation... Once upon a time in ancient times, the rainforest extended much further east, north and south, it stepped over the Rift Valley into East Africa, and in some places even reached the coast. It is possible that such forests covered the entire South Sudan up to the Ethiopian highlands and along the mountain slopes rose much higher than today.

Each year, fires approach the rainforest. The natural boundary between forest and savanna is a strip of thickets no wider than eight to ten meters, sufficient to protect the rainforest. Such vegetation usually perishes from fire, and then it is restored again. The outer side of the strip, facing the savannah - small shrubs and dense grass - retards the fire. The more powerful shrubs and the smaller trees behind them usually no longer come into contact with the fire, they are so tall that the shade from them interferes with the growth of grass that could spread the fire. They are followed by even taller trees, and only then a real rainforest begins.

If there were no external interference, the natural boundary between the rainforest and savannah would wander one way or the other, depending on climate change. It represents a clear dividing line between two forms of life: on the one hand, a forest with tall, constantly green trees, at their bases there is a dense bush, but almost no grass anywhere; on the other, a savanna with dense grassy cover and small trees, ten times smaller in height than the trees of the rainforest. On the one hand, the sea sunlight, open spaces overgrown with grass and rare trees, on the other - thick shady wet forest where the sun does not penetrate. The contrast is unimaginable.

Where the rainforest is bordered by the savanna, where the soil is more conducive to growth big trees, or along the rivers, numerous forest islets are formed. This type of terrain, called the rainforest and savanna mosaic area, is favorite place habitat of wild animals. Forest animals quite often graze in the savanna, but of the savannah animals, only water goats dare to enter the forest. On the border of savannas and tropical forests, in places where humans have not yet penetrated, the natural balance is preserved. Currently, rainforests are being destroyed by humans. Plots of forest, especially in the mosaic area, are disappearing so quickly that it is alarming. When the rainforest is cut down, after 10 years in its place appears the so-called secondary savanna; if it was protected from fires and people did not destroy it, over time it could become a rainforest again. The forest grows very slowly, as it must first form protective zone from the bush. The grass grows much faster, so the savannah usually becomes an "aggressor", and the forest - a victim, and it gradually retreats.

The rainforest looks very different from the familiar temperate forests. There is always a shade in it, the temperature is constant, the soil is moist, and this ideal conditions for rapid growth trees. Dead leaves, dead plants, roots lie on the ground, moss and fern are visible here and there, but everything rots at an incredible rate, so that the layer of humus is never as significant as in the deciduous forests of the temperate zone. Anything that falls from trees and is edible is quickly destroyed by various animals, fungi and bacteria. Impenetrable thickets stand like a wall, the view is also hampered by upturned trees, between which there is a fern and a huge amount of moss, lianas hanging from the trees like a thick curtain. At eye level there is a lush deciduous bush, and if a person wants to see what is happening behind him, he will have to bend over. Only in exceptional cases in the rainforest can you see more than 50 steps. Trees of the lower tier with a height of 15-30 meters rise above the bush. They provide food for birds and other animals. The crowns of the lower tier trees are sometimes woven so densely that the canopy above them is made of crowns tall trees not even visible.

The rainforest is a multitude of forest layers. The crowns of giant rainforest trees rise high above the lower tier, sometimes by 30-40 meters. Even in the dense intertwining of the branches of these huge trees, there is a "suspended" fertile soil on which other plants grow. Rainforests are very difficult to explore, and I wouldn't recommend going there alone. It often happens that a person, although he is familiar with the rainforest, loses his bearings and after a hundred steps may get lost. In such forests it is always twilight, humid, windless, the air is heavy. One can hear the wind whistling in the crowns of tall trees, but below it is not felt at all. The silence is broken only by the cry of invisible birds, the crackle of a falling branch, the shrill voice of a monkey, or the buzzing of insects. A person tries to step silently, he experiences fear and horror.

From the forests of the temperate zone, tropical rainforests are distinguished by a huge variety of vegetation. In them, two neighboring trees rarely belong to the same species, but at the same time, you can see large areas where only two or three types of trees predominate. Among the huge trees of the upper tier, haya and entandrophragma trees are often found, and the oil palm is typical for the lower tier.

African rainforest plants

The African forest flora contains up to 25 thousand plant species. Among them there are relatively few types of palms and bamboos, but orchids grow in large numbers.

African rainforest animals

A limited number of species of large animals live in the tropical forest, and yet there are various antelopes and many monkeys among them. Among the smallest animals can be called a lizard, potto or flying spiny-tailed squirrels, very often reptiles, amphibians, ants, butterflies and other types of insects and invertebrates come across. There are many birds here, but it is difficult to see them. In tropical forests, grass almost does not grow, so it is extremely rare to find animals for which it serves as food, but many animals live in them that can eat leaves from trees, shrubs and climbing plants. These are bushbokn, elephants, buffaloes, okapi, bongos and dukers. Such forests are habitats for animals capable of climbing trees and feeding on their leaves and fruits. These are gorillas, chimpanzees and baboons.

There are two types of great apes in the rainforest: the gorilla and the chimpanzee. In Tanzania, some chimpanzee species live even in the mosaic area of ​​rainforest and savannah. In Zaire, there is a pygmy chimpanzee, or bonobos.

Monkeys such as monkeys, mangobes, and gwerets live in the rainforest. All of them are smaller and lighter than chimpanzees and therefore climb better than them. They find food mainly in the crowns of the tallest trees, sometimes just at incredible heights. When they are afraid of something, then, running away, they can jump from a height of 20 meters. The Gverets jump especially far. Monkeys eat a variety of fruits, mainly wild figs. Several species of monkeys can congregate in the crown of a large fig tree at the same time. The easiest way to distinguish is the black and white white-shouldered shrub. There is a lot of it in the forests from high mountains in the east of the continent to West Africa itself. In West Africa, there is a Geeretsa Satan, which the locals call the child of the devil. In the lowland forests, the red gweretsa lives - a small quiet animal with a very beautiful skin that feeds on leaves and fruits.

Baboons live mainly in the savannah, but two species - mandrill and drill - have adapted to life in the rainforest and inhabit forests from Cameroon to the Congo River. They kept the habit of eating on the ground and living in groups. Little is known about the lifestyle of both species. Mandrills are one of the most beloved and popular inhabitants of zoos. They attract the attention of visitors with their unusual appearance: in the male, the middle of the nose is bright red, and on both sides there are expressive blue stripes. The dril has a black muzzle.

Dwarf forms of some animal species can be found in tropical forests. Pygmy Liberian hippos live only in the densest Guinean rainforests of Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. Elephants in rainforests are smaller than in savannahs, tusks are shorter, and ears are rounded. Forest buffaloes, in contrast to the large black buffaloes of the Eastern and South Africa small and red.

Dwarf buffaloes in this part of Africa are significantly smaller than buffaloes in the savannahs. Usually, buffaloes do not pose a danger to humans. When they are wounded, they go into the thicket. If the hunter decides to pursue the wounded animal, he will have to wade through the thicket on all fours, and in such a situation the buffalo will certainly go on the offensive and can not only injure, but also kill the hunter with his horns.

There are two species of large forest pigs found in tropical forests - the large forest pig, discovered only in 1904, and the bush-eared pig. The latter is very common. These animals eat everything that comes across, therefore, in areas where there is arable land, they are considered large pests. Bristle-eared pigs live in groups of several hundred heads, but it is rather difficult to see them.

The only large predator living in tropical forests is a thunderstorm of animals - the leopard. Its main victims are baboons and brush-eared pigs, so in this case people consider the leopard a useful animal. The leopard lies in wait for its prey in the crown of a tree and is able to lie so quietly that you will not notice it even on close range... On the bark of trees, I often noticed deep scratches - the claw marks of a leopard that climbed up. Once I saw a leopard lying literally three steps away, but he turned away, got up and left. I wonder how many times leopards have seen me so close, the presence of which I did not even suspect ?!

Some forest leopards are black. Many mammals and birds living in humid climates generally tend to be darker in color. Some animals adapt to life in the rainforest, changing color to red, which can be seen in buffaloes. In the forests of West Africa, there are brush-eared pigs and bushboks, also of red color, while the bushboks living in the Ethiopian Highlands are black.

Small rivers and streams flow through tropical forests, forming shallow lakes and creeks, often just pits filled with rainwater, in which elephants and buffaloes lie waddling from side to side. Some forest animals come here to drink, while others do not feel the need for it, because together with the plants they eat, they receive a sufficient amount of moisture. It is very difficult to find water in some parts of the forest growing on sandy soils during the dry season. The Benin sands are so porous that even after a strong tropical rainstorm, all the water is sucked into the ground, which after a few minutes becomes dry again, and no puddles remain anywhere. In places with a sufficient amount of water, the water deer lives, which belongs to the most primitive ruminants. Some signs bring him closer not to ruminants, but to camels. Often confused with him is the dwarf antelope - the smallest of all ruminants. She is the size of a rabbit, and when she is frightened, she disappears in three-meter jumps.

A significant part of the rainforest is located in the hills. Rivers originating in mountains or swamps flow down narrow gorges and, forming foamy eddies, rush to the plains, where their flow slows down. During the rainy seasons, the water level in the rivers rises, but floods are rare here. Most of the water is absorbed into the soil, even in places like the Cameroon rainforest, where an average of 30 millimeters of rain falls per day.

The Congo Basin has extensive swampy areas and shallow small lakes. The forests that grow in these swampy places are forced to adapt to life in eternal dampness. Here you can see a special type of forest in which such an intertwining of palms and wild reeds grows that it is practically impossible to get through it. The sitatungs are very fond of lingering in these thickets. The swamps cannot be surveyed on foot. You can only ride a canoe, but the branches hanging low over the water make you bend under them every minute. Having passed through such a tunnel of dense vegetation, you find yourself on a quiet beautiful forest lake surrounded by tall bright green grass. Sometimes there you will see hippos, beautiful bright blue kingfishers, there are also large piebald kingfishers, feeding mainly on fish. But there are kingfishers that eat mostly insects. Here, around the quiet lakes, there is a real paradise for these birds: in one place you can see up to five or more species at once.

The main "fisher" in the waters of the tropical rainforest is the screamer eagle. It lies in wait for its prey, sitting in tall trees, and, as soon as a fish splashes on the surface of the water, it rushes at it. The Angolan vulture also occasionally feeds on small fish or freshwater crabs, although its main food is the fruit of the oil palm. The Cape otter, which lives in forest rivers, feeds mainly on crabs. You can often see her lying stretched out on the sand or rock, holding a crab in her paws and eating it like a man does a watermelon.

Along river banks or roads, the rainforest gives the impression of an impenetrable wall. Only in the crowns of trees fly various birds - rhinos, especially the black hornbill. When they fly from tree to tree, their powerful wings emit a sharp whistling sound when flapping. Together with these birds, there live there similar to the cuckoo turaco, especially the crested turaco. Thousands fly over the river in the evening bats that broad-mouthed kites feed on.

All living things in tropical forests are terrified by ants. They are most active at night and during the rainy season. When the ants begin their hike, everyone, including the elephants, scatters. You can often see them moving in columns three centimeters wide. Upon closer inspection, you can discern that there are small ants in the middle, laying eggs... On both sides the guards are moving - large ants-soldiers with powerful jaws. If there is any obstacle on the way, they pounce on it and bite through. When ants go for food, they walk in a wide chain and eat everything that comes their way. Those who do not have time to hide are destroyed. Armies of ants are driven out of their homes and people; you can make them turn off the road only by pouring a thick layer of ash or spraying it with poisonous insecticides. Flocks of insectivorous birds are vigilantly watching the moving columns of ants. Several times I found myself the target of such marching ants and was badly bitten and suffered a terrible headache for a long time. Then, every time I saw these columns in the distance, I tried to avoid them. Small birds and young animals suffer greatly from ants. There have been cases when ants climbed into the trunk of an elephant, which led to him losing his mind.

The boyga snake also climbs trees perfectly, devastating bird nests. The Gabonese viper and the rhino viper are very poisonous. It is not clear why these snakes have such a strong poison, because they feed on small rodents. After being bitten, the snake usually immediately releases its victim, and then pursues, which helps the sense of smell. Only the Gabonese viper firmly holds the victim, and the dose of poison is so significant that it hardly resists.

Many forest areas are inhabited by people who annually uproot more and more forests and cultivate the land. The edges of the forest are gradually being taken over by the savannah. It looks like the forests will shrink and will be replaced by fields and plantations. All over Africa, trees continue to be cut down and no one cares about new reforestation. Reducing forest area will reduce humidity, which means Africa will dry up and become even more desolate.

Tropical forests are the "lungs" of our planet, the most precious treasure, "the big pharmacy of the Earth." For many years, it was believed that they produce colossal volumes of oxygen, but this turned out to be not the case, but the humid climate promotes impeccable air filtration and purification of pollution. A lot of medicinal plants grow in this zone, which have been used in folk and official medicine... Where a huge number of birds, predators, artiodactyls, amphibians live, they all somehow get along on the same territory, surprising travelers with their large numbers.

Distribution of tropical forests

It will immediately become clear where the rainforests grow, if we explain that they seem to "encircle" the planet along the Equator. They are located in the humid equatorial, dry tropical, temperate, representing a clear line, interrupted only by mountains and oceans. Vegetation changes depending on the air temperature and the amount of precipitation. Rainy areas are covered with evergreen flora, drier regions are characterized by deciduous plants, followed by savanna forests. In both South America and Africa, there are monsoon forests in the west, savanna forests in the east, and equatorial forests in the middle.

Forest levels

The description of the rainforest will be clearer if it is divided into tiers. There are four main levels. The topmost one is evergreen trees up to 70 m tall, they have green caps mainly only on top, but below there are bare trunks. These giants can easily withstand hurricanes, temperature drops, sheltering the rest of the tiers from bad weather. The main hosts here are eagles, butterflies, bats. Further there is a forest canopy consisting of 45-meter trees. The level of the crowns is considered the most diverse, about 25% of all insect species live here. Scientists agree that 40% of all plant species on the planet are located on this tier, although it has not been fully studied.

This is followed by the middle level, called the underbrush, where snakes, birds, lizards live, the number of insects is also huge. Remains of animals and decaying plants are found on the layer of the forest floor. This stratification is more common in the humid tropics. For example, selva - the forests of South America - is divided into only three levels. The first is grass, low plants, ferns, the second is reeds, low shrubs, young trees, the third is 40-meter trees.

The dominant species of flora and fauna depend on where tropical forests grow. For example, mangroves are common in equatorial and tropical latitudes in the tidal zones of the sea coasts. Plants grow here that are accustomed to do without oxygen and feel great in salty soil. Their roots create an excellent habitat for oysters, crustaceans, and commercial fish species. On the slopes of the mountains, in the area of ​​fog condensation, moss or fog forests grow, characterized by low night temperatures.

The arid regions are dominated by savannah and rainforest, but dry. The plants here are evergreen, but xeromorphic and undersized. In regions of equatorial and tropical zones with variable climate grow variable wet forests, characterized by deciduous crowns and a small number of lianas and epiphytes. They are found in South America, Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Indochina.

Rainforest climate

In humid tropical forests, the air temperature ranges from 20 ° C to 35 ° C, it rains here almost daily, so the humidity is kept at 80%, and in some regions it reaches 100%. In the subtropics there is no pronounced seasonality, the temperature is characterized by stability. On the slopes of the mountains, where fogs are observed, it is warm during the day, and at night a sharp cooling down to 0 ° C is possible. The climate of the rainforest varies depending on the belt. In the tropics heat and low humidity, at the equator there is a lot of moisture and very hot, and at the subequatorial belt, the weather depends on the monsoons.

Trees of the tropics

Rainforest trees differ significantly from temperate trees. climatic zone... The peculiarity of their development is influenced by weather conditions, because there is no seasonality at the equator, it rains almost daily, and the air temperature is 25-35 ° С. If in Russia giants grow in several centuries, then 10-15 years are enough there. Each type of tree sheds its leaves in a strictly defined period, it can be once every six months, once every 2-3 years. They also bloom when they want, many representatives of the flora delight with flowers once a decade. The trees have mostly large leathery leaves that are strong enough to withstand heavy torrents of rain. More than 600 species of bamboo, chocolate cola, marang, jackfruit, mango, etc. grow in the tropics.

Exotic shrubs

The question of whether there is a shrub layer in tropical forests remains rather controversial. In the subtropical and moderate belts it is, but in the equatorial it is not. Of course, there are representatives of shrubs there, but there are very few of them and they will not create their own level. Together with them, herbaceous phanerophytes grow, preserving the trunk from one to several years, and undersized trees. This includes representatives of the scitamine, marate, and banana families. Most of the shrubs are dicotyledonous, their leaves are large, but tender.

Rainforest herbs

V virgin forests incredibly beautiful, bright, with unusual appearance birds. Each separate part of the world can boast of its own kind of birds. For example, in the tropics of Asia, there are turachi, appearance they resemble partridges, only slightly larger. They run fast, so in case of danger they do not take off, but flee with all their might. Shrub chickens, pheasants, and regal peacocks also live in the forests. In the American tropics, you can find tinama - a poorly flying bird with short but very strong legs. Well, how can you not remember the bright, funny and talkative parrots, without which the tropics are not tropics. In addition, variegated pigeons, trogons, woodpeckers, flycatchers, hornbills live on the equator. In the forests of the Amazon there are hummingbirds, tanagers, rocky cockerels, cotings and many others.

Animals

Animal world rainforests are striking in their diversity and richness of species. The largest number is represented by a group of monkeys living high in trees and in impenetrable thickets. The most interesting of them are cebids, marmosets and arachnids families. Igruniforms are characterized by a very small size, in length they reach no more than 15 cm, cebids can boast long tail with which they hook on branches, and spider monkeys have flexible and long limbs.

But the fauna of tropical forests is not limited to monkeys alone; anteaters, sloths, porcupines also live here. Among predators, representatives of felines predominate - jaguars, jaguarundi, ocelots, panthers, from the canine family - bush dogs. There are also ungulates - tapirs, spoke-horned deer. The rainforests are also rich in rodents - opossums, marsupial rats, bats, agouti.

Amphibians of the tropics

Large and reptiles are also characteristic of the rainforest. Photos of exotic snakes, frogs, crocodiles, chameleons, lizards are no longer considered a rarity. Amphibians are found in all parts of the world, but they are most abundant in tropical rainforests, as they are attracted by heat and moisture. At the equator, they live not only in water, but also in trees, in the axils of leaves, in hollows. Salamanders live in the tropics, many poisonous snakes, water anacondas and land boa constrictors became widespread.

Insects

Looking at what animals live in the rainforest, it can be assumed that insects are no less bright, unusual and dangerous here. These small creatures of the tropics are attracted by the warmth, high humidity and a wide variety of food - animal remains, numerous plants. At the equator, you can find bees and wasps that are familiar to us, but here they differ more large size and bright, shiny color. Among them there are representatives with long legs, blue wings and a large body, they are able to tame large beetles and spiders. Bloated trunks are found on many shrubs - these are ant nests. Ants in the tropics protect plants by eating leaf-eating insects.

Beetles do not play a significant role in the life of tropical forests, but every traveler will be fascinated by their diversity and variegation. These insects are a natural decoration of this God-forsaken area. Of course, one cannot help but remember the tropical butterflies, only in South America there are more than 700 species of these beautiful creatures. Animals and plants of tropical forests represent a special world unknown to people. Researchers annually make their way deep into the thickets in order to lift the veil of secrets that this area keeps, to find new representatives of flora and fauna.

African equatorial forests occupy flat and mountainous areas. Mountain forests are shrouded in clouds, maintaining high humidity. Therefore, they are also called cloud forests. The world's largest monkeys, gorillas, live in the tropical forests of Africa. There are only two populations of gorillas: the lowland, or terrestrial, gorillas that live in the western lowland forests, and the mountain gorillas that inhabit the eastern mountain forests. Gorillas are great apes. These are huge animals, males of which reach 2 m in height and can weigh up to 300 kg. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are peaceful vegetarians. Gorillas live in family groups of 5 to 15 individuals: several females and juveniles. The group is headed by an adult male (he can be recognized by his silvery back). The leader takes care of the whole flock, and if he dies for any reason, then the rest of the group may die along with him, having lost his protection and guardianship. Gorillas are too heavy to climb trees easily, so they lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Every evening they settle for the night, building nests on the branches of sufficiently strong trees or on the ground. Gorillas are not aggressive, but in case of danger, they can attack the offender. Most often, they scare off the attacker without engaging in a fight, roar, beat themselves in the chest with their fists and break branches with a loud crash. In the same way, young males sort things out among themselves.

The fauna of the African rainforests differs from the savannahs in the absence of large predators. (The leopard is an exception.) Inhabitants of tropical forests are much smaller than their congeners living in savannahs. So, for example, duker antelopes are slightly larger than a hare, a pygmy hippopotamus is two times smaller than usual, and okapi - a relative of giraffes - is significantly inferior to them in growth.

Okapi, which lives only in forests, does not need long neck like a giraffe, because it can pick shoots, leaves and anodes not high from the ground. The color of the okapi also reminds little of its relative, oh big ears gives it a somewhat comic look, but helps to better capture forest sounds. Interestingly, the okapi tongue is so long that it can reach the ear.

V dense thickets On the banks of the rivers live miniature African deer, the size of a domestic cat. They are relatives of deer, kote have no horns and lead a completely different way of life. These animals live near water and swim well. Sensing danger, the deer runs to the water and dives, holding its breath for a long time. He moves along the bottom of the river and emerges in a safe place, thus escaping from the pursuer. This unusual creature feeds not only on plants, but also on small fish, crabs, insects and even small mammals. Deer are active at night, and during the day they climb the trees along the lianas, like a ladder. There are deer in the trees and hide during the day.

Several species of hyrax live in Africa. These small (body length up to 60 cm) animals are separated into a separate order of mammals. Outwardly, they resemble marmots or pikas, although Scientific research revealed their distant relationship with elephants. The woods are inhabited by tree hyraxes, who know how to climb trees perfectly, jumping from branch to branch in search of food. Damans feed on plants and insects. Wood hyraxes keep one by one, in contrast to mountain hyraxes, living in small colonies.

In tropical forests, you can find an animal that looks like a spruce cone. This mammal from the order of lizards is called pangolin. Pangolins have much in common with armadillos, since, according to scientists, they descended from the same ancestors.The body of a pangolin is covered with horny scales that protect it from predators: the pangolin, like the armadillo, can curl up into a ball and feed on insects. Woody pangolins have a strong grasping tail, with which they cling to branches, climbing trees.

Geneta is a mobile predator, a relative of the civet, mongoose and meerkat. The flexible and agile geneta easily climbs trees, hunting for birds and small mammals, but most of the time genets spend on the ground. Great apes live in African forests. They live in groups of 2 to 20 individuals, headed by a male vazhak. The lifestyle of chimpanzees is generally similar to that of gorillas. However, chimpanzees do not only eat plant food but also insects and small mammals. Sometimes a group of chimpanzees also attack a rather large animal. These monkeys even have cases of cannibalism: one monkey can steal a cub from another to eat it. Chimpanzees are at a higher level in their development than other mammals - they are very smart, communicate with each other using more than 30 different sounds. Great apes are the closest human relatives in the animal kingdom.

All layers of the African rainforest are home to many birds, some of which are found only here. In Africa, unlike South America, there are not so many parrots, only a few dozen species. The most famous parrot is a gray-colored parrot with a red undertail. Small birds of the sunbird occupy the same ecological niche as hummingbirds in South America. It is home to arboreal hoopoes, hornbills, banana-eaters and Congolese peacocks. This rare peacock was discovered by scientists relatively recently: before that, its existence could only be judged by a single accidentally found feather.

In terms of the brightness of the color of the bird, the bananoed, or tura ko, are not inferior to the South American parrots. Turaka, which are relatives of cuckoos, live upright, breaking into pores only during the breeding season. When it rains, banana eaters can “shed”, as their feathers are covered with a multicolored powdery substance that dissolves in water. After some time, the brightness of the color is restored. Turakas fly poorly, preferring to climb trees or gliding from branch to branch in search of food, fruits and small animals.

In the dark, small mammals belonging to the order of bats fly out to hunt. Spreading their leathery wings, they fly between trees and catch insects. Well-developed hearing, sight, touch, and in some species and echolocation, help these animals perfectly navigate in the dark, without bumping into obstacles. During the day, bats rest in caves, rock crevices, as well as in hollows or on tree branches. They cling to branches or stones with their hind legs, hanging upside down, and, folding their wings, sleep. In tree trunks, foliage and forest litter lives a large number of a wide variety of insects, spiders, millipedes and molluscs. The most numerous insects are ants, of which there are more than 600 species in the forest of Africa. Insects such as stick insects, praying mantises and beetles live here. The goliath beetle, the largest beetle in the world that lives in these forests, has become very rare due to collectibles. The most colorful representatives of insects are butterflies. In the forest canopy, fathead butterflies, bluebirds, tropical butterflies, as well as African giant sailboats fly. Centipedes are ancient arthropods that have lived on Earth for over 500 million years. Living in the forest floor, they crawl out during the leader or at night, feed on the remains of animals.

Legless amphibians - worms - live in the moist litter of the tropical forest. Outwardly, they look like earthworms, although they are relatives of frogs, salamanders and newts. The body length of these amphibians can reach 1.1 meters. Worms feed on soil invertebrates: earthworms, millipedes and others.

Large representatives of the cat family live in the tropical zone. The most common of these are leopards and tigers. The tiger is considered the most dangerous predator the tropics. He is fast and ruthless. Monkeys, gazelles, and even zebras become its prey. However, despite this, tigers are afraid of people and attack them only in the rarest of cases.

Leopards of the tropics are divided into several species, but they all have characteristic spots on their skin. By the way, the famous black, a symbol of grace and beauty, is also a leopard, but with black spots on the background. The smoky leopard is also interesting. He climbs trees no worse than a domestic cat, jumping from branch to branch and terrifying the monkeys.

Tigers are found not only in the tropics, but also in the mountains and in the northern regions.

Such different monkeys in the rainforest

The funny ones that children like so much are not only mischievous and macaques. In the tropics, there are dozens of species of these animals, very tiny and huge. The smallest is this. Its dimensions are 11-15 cm. The animal looks like a cute fluffy toy and easily fits in the palm of your hand. Igrunks live in trees and feed on tree sap and insects.

The largest is the gorilla. Males reach the height of an average person - 1.75 m, and their weight often exceeds 200 kg. Gorillas live on the ground, and feed on insects and shoots of green plants.

According to scientists, gorillas are the closest relatives of humans.

Pachyderm animals of the tropics

The hippopotamus least of all resembles a slender horse, and yet his name is translated as "river horse". Hippos spend most of the day in a tropical swamp, and even their birth takes place right in the water. Despite their bulkiness and seeming melancholy, hippos are very ferocious if they or their cubs are in danger.

Another typical tropical animal is. These animals are among the most dangerous - an angry rhino runs at a speed of 40 km / h, and its sharp horn is able to pierce the thickest skin. The only thing that saves the victim from the rage of the rhino is the pachyderm's poor eyesight. Rhinos are usually guided by smell.

The only animals that don't care about rhino rage are. Some of the largest mammals live, usually led by the oldest female. Elephants are among the smartest animals - they can distinguish notes, have their own language, and recognize themselves in a mirror.

Tip 2: What animals are wet equatorial forests

The humid equatorial forests of Africa, South America, India are extremely rich and diverse in their flora and fauna. The fauna includes the inhabitants of several tiers - the high-rise floors of the forest.

Gilea - humid equatorial forest

Evergreen forests are located along the equator in narrow stripes. Here, multi-tiered trees stand like solid walls, under the crowns of which eternal twilight and stupefying humidity reign. The temperature in such forests is constantly extremely high, while the seasons here do not change at all. At any moment, a solid wall of torrential rain can collapse. That is why such a jungle is also called permanent rain. Alexander Humboldt gave them the name "gilea" - from the Greek "forest".

Some travelers of the past, having visited such a forest, called it "green hell".

Each of the species of plants and animals found in the Gilea has its own "floor", a place of permanent habitation. There can be up to five "floors" in the forest.

Animal world

The lower tier is the least densely populated floor of the equatorial forest. There are insects, various rodents, predators (including, for example, panthers, jaguars, leopards and other wild felines), as well as wild and small ungulates. In India they live here - they are smaller than African ones and are quite capable of moving under a low cover of trees.

By the way, just such a forest was described by Rudyard Kipling in his book "Mowgli". The boy, raised by wolves, grew up in Gilea.

Water snakes, crocodiles and hippos live in various and numerous bodies of water - lakes and rivers.

By the way, some rodents also live on higher tiers - they have special membranes between their limbs, allowing them to glide between trees.

A variety of birds live on all layers of the equatorial forest, ranging from tiny bright sunbirds to hornbills and huge turaco. Another feathered inhabitant of the equatorial forest is also very beautiful - the toucan with its bright yellow neck and red stripe on its beak. Birds of paradise with long colored tails and tufts do not lag behind in exoticism.

Most of all in rain forests of all kinds. True, some (usually unusual!) Of them are on the verge of extinction - mainly due to the activities of poachers.

In the crowns of trees and live: chimpanzees, gorillas, macaques, gibbons. They usually settle in flocks.

A variety of snakes also live in the equatorial forests. Among them are huge, boas, which can weigh up to 100 kilograms. Among them there are both viviparous and oviparous species.

The countries with the warmest climate on Earth are located along the equator. This is Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia, Kiribati, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil.

Ecuador - the pearl of the equator

Translated from Spanish "Ecuador" means equator. This South American state is located on a small segment of the prime meridian. Despite its not too impressive size, the state is multinational; the cultures and customs of many nationalities are closely intertwined in it.

The main treasure of Ecuador is his and vegetable world... Here they found a permanent 4.5 thousand different species of butterflies, about 1600 species of birds, 350 species of reptiles, at least 260 species, 350 species of amphibians. Ecuador has a well-developed tourism, oil and gas industry, export of coffee, cocoa, timber, bananas, shrimp, tuna, flowers.

Natural conditions

The climate in Ecuador is largely determined by the Andes. Southern part the coast is washed by the cold waters of the Pacific Humboldt Current. Almost all types of climate are present in the country - from hot and humid to severe and cold. In the middle part of the mountains, the average annual temperature is kept in the range of 20-23 degrees. Plus 25-30 degrees is the average temperature of the coast.

Flora of Ecuador

No country in South America has this diversity. plant communities like in Ecuador. The Andes, from Cape Pasado to the area below the Equator, are covered with dense rainforest. Further, rain forests give way to the territory of xerophytic shrubs, passing into desert areas. Rare thorny trees are interspersed with xerophytic trees, crotons and cacti.

The most famous tree, Palo de Balsa, is found both in the Guayas Valley and in northern Peru. The tree is valued for the light timber known all over the world, from which marine vessels are built. In these areas, there is a plant similar to a palm tree, the clawed dwarf, from the fibers of the leaves of which "Panama hats" are made, known to almost everyone. The high Andes are covered with grassy vegetation, over which the espeletia rise. This plant reaches a height of 1.5 - 6, the leaves are spear-shaped, blooms in clusters. The local flora was largely replaced by cultivated plants. Behind the eastern Condillera, a rainforest zone opens up.

Fauna of ecuador

The jungle of Ecuador is home to a huge number of rare animals and birds. Hummingbirds are considered one of the most interesting species. In paramos, spectacled bears, mountain, small reindeer poo. The owners of the jungle can be called wild, who spend most of their existence in dense bushes and swampy reeds. Aggressive little leopards, monkeys, toucans, parrots, caimans, kuchuchi live here.

The rarest animals can be seen on the Galapagos Islands, similar to a closed world that has escaped the rapid processes of evolution. Rare specimens of animals that have long disappeared from other parts of the world have survived here. These are earthen finches, marine and land iguana. The islands are home to gigantic land turtles, which are found only in Indian Ocean on the Mascarene Islands.

In the waters washing the Galapagos, there are many dolphins and whales, sea pinnipeds, the rarest Galapagos marine. The existence of penguins here is a complete paradox - along with iguanas and birds, they form an amazing sight.

amphibians, rodents and birds. Is there and large predators- (in Africa), jaguars (in South America), as well as hippos and crocodiles. Rivers and lakes are inhabited by about a third of the freshwater fauna of the entire planet.

Four levels in the equatorial forest and their fauna

Rainforests are divided into four main levels, each of which has its own characteristics, as well as its own characteristic fauna. The uppermost level, which is made up of a small number of very tall trees, is home to bats, eagles and some. There are several hundred species of bats in the Congo and Amazon Valley.

The crown level is located 30-45 meters from the surface of the earth, it is the densest and is known for its biological diversity... The fauna of the crown level is similar to that found at the topmost level, but more diverse. The middle level is called sub-ceiling, and many birds live here, as well as lizards and snakes. The lower tier is the habitat of rodents and insects.

The most interesting animals of the equatorial forests

The jaguar is one of the largest representatives of the cat family, it lives in the Americas. The jaguar goes hunting at dusk, monkeys, ungulates, birds and even turtles become its prey. The powerful jaws of this animal are able to bite through their shell with ease. Sometimes it attacks alligators, it swims well and can only miss its prey on very rare occasions.

Some species of monkeys live in forest crowns at a height of about 50 m above the ground. Equatorial forests densely populated by monkeys, gorillas, narrow-nosed monkeys and gibbons. Gorillas are the largest representatives of this class, their height reaches 1 m 50 cm, and their weight can exceed 250 kg. Predators are afraid to attack them, because adult gorillas have tremendous strength.

In gibbons, the length of the forelimbs exceeds the length of the hind ones; they are perfectly adapted to move in the crowns of trees by the method of brachyation. Swinging on their hands, gibbons quickly move from one branch to another. But they move on two legs, and Long hands lift up to maintain balance.