26 FOREST ANIMALS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS (WITH PICTURES) - BIOLOGY - 2025

The animals of the forest can live in different world ecoregions and can be mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles. Forests that despite being exposed to deforestation, still exhibit an unusual and spectacularly diverse fauna.

Surely some of them sound like the elephant or frogs, but do you know the aye-aye or the ocelot? Find out in this wild article.

List of 25 animals that live in forests

The Seychelles tiger chameleon

Scientific name: Archaius tigris

The Seychelles tiger chameleon is a species of chameleon that is only found in the tropical forests of the islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin belonging to the Republic of Seychelles.

These scaly sauropsids are about 16 centimeters long and their colors range from soft gray to deep shades of orange, yellow, and dark brown.

They feed on insects thanks to their long tongue which is their fundamental hunting tool. These oviparous reptiles are considered to be in serious danger of extinction and only about 2,000 are believed to remain in the wild.

Like any chameleon, it tends to change color. It does so in just 10 seconds and mostly indicates the mood of these stereoscopic vision animals.

Mongoose

Scientific name: Herpestes ichneumon

The mongoose, common mongoose or Egyptian mongoose is a carnivorous mammal, belonging to the herpesstidae family that can measure up to 60 centimeters and weigh almost 4 kilos.

Their natural habitat is forests, bushes and jungles and they are widely distributed in southern Europe, most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. Its diet consists of invertebrates, birds, reptiles, rodents, and fish.

The ancient Egyptians domesticated mongooses for their great ability to kill cobras and rodents. So important was their function, that they were animals venerated in Egyptian temples such as Heliopolis and was represented as Re-Atem for having defeated the serpent Apophis.

The gestation of the Egyptian mongooses lasts about 11 weeks and their mating lasts only 5 minutes. It has been shown that they can live for almost 20 years, although the average lifespan of Egyptian mongooses is 12 years.

The Okapi

Scientific name: Okapia johnstoni

Although directly related to giraffes, okapis have a horse's body and striped legs like zebras. Males have horns and are approximately 1.5 meters tall. Females can weigh up to 350 kilos and males between 200 and 300 kilos.

This peculiar mammal can be found living mainly in the Ituri forest, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Okapi are herbivores, their diet consists of branches, fungi, shoots, fruits and clay from which they obtain the salts and minerals that they do not obtain from herbaceous plants.

It is estimated that only 25 thousand okapis remain living in the wild, which is why they are considered to be in danger of extinction.

Spider monkey

Scientific name: Ateles hybridus

Spider monkeys are incredibly intelligent primates, in fact they are more intelligent than gorillas and only slightly less intelligent than orangutans and chimpanzees.

They are considered the most acrobatic primates in the animal world since they use their tail as a fifth limb to swing through the trees, making their movements so fast and light that they closely resemble the movements of spiders.

They live in the tropical forests of South America and also in the tropical forests of Central America, as well as in the humid forests of northern Mexico. Due to the accelerated destruction of its habitat, the spider monkey is on the list of the 25 threatened primate species and in serious risk of extinction.

The ocelot or cunaguaro

Scientific name: Leopardus pardalis

The ocelot, cunaguaro or jaguarcito is a very small carnivorous feline that we can find from the north of the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, north of the Orinoco River and in the central Venezuelan plains, north of Argentina and in the forest of the Valley of Aburra in Colombia.

They are wild cats with yellow specks. They measure around 80 centimeters and their weight ranges between 8 and 15 kilos. These felids hunt at night as they have excellent binocular and night vision and have arboreal behaviors.

These mammals are solitary and independent but not asocial, they sleep during the day and the males usually hunt alone and at night, while the females take care of the young.

Their diet is based on rodents, bats, snakes, fish, alligators, rabbits, and young deer. They can live up to 20 years. The ocelot is one of the cats in danger of extinction due to its indiscriminate hunting and progressive destruction of its habitat.

The demon of Tasmania

Scientific name: Sarcophilus harrisii

These small marsupials can be found in the forests and bushes of the Island of Tasmania, Australia. They measure between 51 and 79 centimeters and can weigh between 4 and 12 kilos.

They sleep in caves, rocks, and burrows. His shrill screech, sharp pointed teeth and wild, fierce eyes caused early Australian settlers to call him "demon or devil."

They are solitary animals that come together only to feed, they are nocturnal and feed on carrion. The Tasmanian devil is a protected animal on the Island of Tasmania, as they are considered an endangered species.

The Fox

Scientific name: Atelocynus microtis

These beautiful mammals are carnivores and are the smallest members of the canine family. They are excellent nocturnal hunters and usually do it alone. There are several types of foxes, and they are related to wolves, coyotes, and the jackal.

We can find them in Australia (they were introduced in these lands by man), in North America (specifically in Canada) and in Central America. They adapt easily to any habitat but they like to live in forests near rivers.

They are intelligent, cunning and curious mammals and are not afraid of humans. They live in small groups, measure 35 to 50 centimeters and can weigh up to 14 kilos in adulthood. Because of their beautiful fur, foxes are victims of illegal hunters and there are several species of foxes in danger of extinction.

They can run at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour and can jump obstacles of up to 2 meters. They eat rodents, fruits and hares.

They can live up to 12 years in captivity and 6 years in the wild.

Gazelles

Scientific name: Gazella

Gazelles are graceful antelopes that live in numerous herds in Asia and Africa, in the silent forests of Good Hope at the Cape, in Barbary, Syria, and in the eastern tip of Mongolia.

They are herbivorous and feed on aromatic herbs. These beautiful mammals have an average size of almost 2 meters and weigh between 12 and 79 kilos.

There are about 19 species of gazelles and scientific studies have revealed that gazelles to hydrate, reduce the size of their heart and liver. Several species of gazelles are in danger of extinction (such as the slender-horned gazelles and Cuvier's gazelles) as they face continuous indiscriminate hunting.

The volcano rabbit

Scientific name: Romerolagus diazi

This tender mammal is the smallest of the rabbits, reaching approximately 30 centimeters. Its tail is not visible to the human eye.

They live in small groups of 5 individuals. They can only be found in Mexico, in the forests on the slopes of 4 volcanoes (Popocatépetl, Iztaccihuatl, El Pelado and Tláloc). They can live up to 12 years and have between one and four descendants.

Koala

Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus

These charming mammals are marsupials found exclusively in the eucalyptus forests of Australia. Although they are believed to be bears, they are not, as their young are born immature and finish developing in the safety of a bag.

They are considered an endangered species and it is believed that only about 43 thousand koalas remain in Australian territory. Koalas are nocturnal animals, and they sleep between 18 and 20 hours. A koala can go many years of its life without drinking water. In the wild, koalas can live between 13 and 18 years.

The pink dolphin

Scientific name: Inia Geoffrensis

There are 5 species of dolphins that live in rivers, the pink dolphin being the most popular and striking.

The towering pink river dolphins differ greatly from the dolphins found in the oceans. The pink dolphins of the Amazon rainforest are considered the most intelligent river dolphins that exist, with 40% more brain capacity than human beings.

Pink dolphins (also known locally as Botos) have been listed as an endangered endangered species. They are friendly and sociable mammals and have lived for centuries in the Amazon basin.

These cetaceans feed on small fish, small turtles, crabs, and catfish. Their size can vary from 1 meter 80 centimeters to 2 meters 40 centimeters approximately and they can weigh from 80 to 160 kilograms.

Pink river dolphins have the characteristic of being almost blind and, paradoxically because of their developed brain, they have relatively good vision.

Owl

Perhaps it is the most representative species of those that live in forests.

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of strigiform bird of the Strigidae family, it is a large raptor, distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa. It is more common in northeastern Europe, but also in the area around the Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula.

Tibetan antelope

Scientific name: Lynx lynx

The Eurasian lynx is a feline that tends to be lonely, on the prowl, hidden in dense forests like those of Western Europe and can currently be found mostly in China and the forests of Siberia.

Its size can vary from 80 centimeters long to 1 meter and 30 centimeters long and its weight also varies from 18 to 40 kilos. It is an efficient and very fast predator with a wide variety of prey, although when it can, it focuses on hunting deer. They are strictly carnivores and tend to eat almost two kilos of meat a day.

It is estimated that there are only about 50,000 Eurasian lynxes left worldwide and they are frequently threatened by illegal hunting of fur.

The toucan

Scientific name: Ramphastidae

Toucans are renowned for their picturesque beaks. There are more than 40 species of toucans and they tend to live in the tropical forests of Central America, South America and the Caribbean areas.

Thanks to their colorful plumage, they have great ability to camouflage themselves in the jungle. They live in flocks of about 5 or 6 birds and are omnivores. Their predators are varied, from snakes that feed on their eggs, to wild cats and larger birds.

Their wings are usually small so they do not have the ability to fly great distances. Being animals of exuberant beauty, they are usually caught and sold as pets.

Poison Dart Frog or Arrowhead Frog

Scientific name: Oophaga pumilio

The poison dart frog, considered one of the most poisonous and toxic species on earth, contains enough venom to kill 20,000 mice. These amphibians commonly inhabit rainforests in the tropical region of Nicaragua, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, the Colombian Andes, and some Caribbean islands.

They are very small, measuring between 17 and 24 millimeters. Their skin is relatively smooth and their usual colors are incredibly bright in hues ranging from deep red, orange, green, blue and yellow.

They feed particularly on ants, although they also include fruit flies, beetles, crickets and termites in their diet, obtaining their toxicity from these insects. They can live up to 17 years

The jaguar

Scientific name: Panthera onca

After the lion and the tiger, the jaguar is also part of the “royal family” of the jungle, being the most numerous feline in the Americas. Specifically, we can find them throughout South America, from Mexico to northern Argentina, with the Pantanal in Brazil being the site most frequented by jaguars.

These mammals boast incredibly powerful jaws, so strong they can pierce a skull or shell of a sea turtle.

These mammals are fearsome predators and excellent hunters, as well as having a varied diet, based mainly on frogs, fish, reptiles, cows and deer. Jaguars adapt to various types of habitats, but they usually live near water, in swamps and tropical forests.

These cats are excellent climbers and climb trees to jump on their prey.

Axolotl or Mexican salamander

Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum

Also called “water dogs” (Atl means “water” and xolotl means “dog” in the Aztec Nahuatl dialect), these carnivorous amphibians are one of the animals most studied by scientists for their ability to regenerate the parts of their body that they are losing.

They live exclusively in lakes and canals in Xochimilco, Mexico and can be 12 to 30 centimeters long and weigh between 60 and 227 grams. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans, larvae and some fish. They can live 15 years.

Unfortunately, due to the accelerated destruction of its habitat, the Mexican salamander is in critical danger of extinction.

The Aye-Aye

Scientific name: Daubentonia madagascarensis

The Aye-Aye is a solitary nocturnal primate, directly related to humans and that can be found exclusively on the island of Madagascar. It has the great ability to use echo and sound waves to find food in the dark.

This primate is omnivorous and can weigh around 20 kilos. They measure between 35 and 45 centimeters, their tails being much longer, reaching up to 60 centimeters. Because they are considered "bad omen" by the indigenous people of Madagascar, these outlandish animals are in danger of extinction, due to the massive killings they carry out with them.

The Green Anaconda

Scientific name: Eunectes murinus

Green anacondas are the aquatic family of boas. They are the heaviest reptiles that exist, weighing 227 kilograms and it is one of the longest snakes that can be found in the world, reaching about 8.8 meters.

Its natural habitat is the tropical forests of the Amazon, in South America, specifically in the river basins of the Orinoco River.

Like boas, green anacondas are not poisonous, and they feed on chigüires, alligators and even jaguars. After eating their huge prey, anacondas can go weeks or even months without eating again. Green anacondas have been found to perform acts of cannibalism.

The Californian Condor

Scientific name: Gymnogyps Californianus

It is one of the most majestic birds. They inhabit the forests of California and Baja California and the rocky scrub savannas of Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

They can spread their wings up to 3 meters and reach altitudes of 4600 meters and speeds close to 88 kilometers per hour. Also known as the “new world vulture”, this bird of prey feeds on carrion (corpses of dead animals) and also includes some rodents and rabbits in its diet.

Thanks to the efforts of scientists to reintroduce the Californian Condor since 2013, there are currently 435 Californian condors, of which 237 condors fly freely in the skies of California, Arizona and Mexico. This spectacular bird can live up to 80 years.

The ostrich

Scientific name: Struthio camelus

These birds are the largest and heaviest birds that exist, which is why they cannot fly. They weigh 250 kilos and measure approximately 2.5 meters.

Although they adapt to different types of habitats due to their nomadic nature, ostriches live mostly in sandy areas and in African regions of the Arabian Peninsula, we can also see ostriches in equatorial forests.

They are really fast, reaching almost 90 kilometers per hour. Contrary to popular belief that ostriches hide their heads under the ground when they feel danger, ostriches only burrow into the ground to lay their eggs for shelter.

When ostriches feel in danger, they run at high speeds or simply fight by hitting their long legs.

Elephant

Scientific name: Elephantidae

These majestic mammals are the largest creatures on earth and can be found in the forests of Central Africa and South Sudan. They are herbivores, sleep barely 3 hours and can swim or dive great distances using their trunk as a respirator.

They weigh up to 7,000 kilograms and measure 3.3 meters. They are extremely intelligent and scientific studies have proven that they have an amazing memory, being able to identify different languages ​​and imitate human voices.

They can also read human body language, show empathy and emotions, and mourn when members of their pack die.

Currently, about 100 elephants are killed daily for the ivory in their tusks, which can cost up to $ 2,000 per kilo on the black market.

The white rhino

Scientific name: Ceratotherium simum

The white rhinoceros is an imposing herbivorous mammal, the largest in existence after the elephant. It can weigh up to 4,500 kilos and measures around 3 meters. They have two horns that can grow up to 1.5 meters and the females use their horns to safeguard their young.

We can find them in forests that have good water supplies, inhabiting only 5 African countries (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa). White rhinos are the only ones that graze and have a sociable nature, being less aggressive towards each other than other types of rhinos. They live in herds of up to 14 individuals.

They have fine hearing and a keen sense of smell. They reproduce only every two and a half years, reaching this chastity to five years. It is estimated that white rhinos can live between 35 and 50 years, some reaching 60 years of life.

The Yunnan box turtle

Scientific name: Cuora yunnanensis

This turtle was not recorded or described until 1988. It measures about 14 centimeters, it is an omnivorous species that feeds both day and night.

There is almost no information about its habitat, but it is believed to inhabit the forests of the Providence Hills of Guangxi and Yunnan in China.

Its situation is critical given the contamination of its habitat and some scientists believe that it is already extinct.

The happy face spider

Scientific name: Theridion grallator

It measures barely 5 millimeters and we can find it in the tropical forests of the Hawaiian Islands. They are arachnids, harmless arthropods, which were discovered in the year 1973.

A "happy face" figure can be seen on its body and many scientists believe that it is a defense method for its predators to be confused and think that they are not edible prey.

Due to new species of plants and animals that are being introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, these peculiar and beautiful creatures are today in danger of extinction.