The fauna of the tropical climate inhabits jungles and tropical forests near the equator. These animals are fascinating due to the weather conditions they experience: constant rains throughout the year and, in the case of the jungles, there is no dry season.
These tropical forests and jungles are home to a large number of animal species. The number of species that inhabit these sites is twice that of other ecosystems. There are so many types of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that scientists have not been able to classify them all.
The fauna of tropical forests around the world evolved thousands of miles apart, so the type of animals found in one place and another varies tremendously.
Among the species that typically inhabit the jungles and tropical forests are one or two big cats that play the role of the main predator. In the case of Central and South America, that place is occupied by the jaguar. The African tropical forests are ruled by leopards and the jungles of Southeast Asia by tigers.
We present below a list of the most popular species of fauna in tropical climates.
Top 25 animals that live in tropical climates
From left to right: sloth, toucan and poison frog
1- Spider monkey: this primate of the Ateles family can be found in the jungles of Central and South America. Its 7 species are in danger of extinction.
2- Toucan: it is a bird of the Ramphastidae family, which is closely related to the American bearded ones. They generally have very colorful plumage and long multicolored beaks.
3- Poison arrow frog: this poisonous amphibian is one of the species within the Dendrobatidae family, which can be found in Ecuador and Peru. It is classified as an endangered species.
4- Macaw: these are birds with a long and colorful tail that are native to the American continent. Its pattern of facial feathers is unique among specimens of the species, somewhat like a fingerprint.
5- Lazy: the name of this mammal comes from its slow movements and without much encouragement, at least at first glance. This rhythm is due to adaptations of your metabolism to preserve energy. They can be found in Central and South American countries.
From left to right: anteater, beetle and chimpanzee
6- Anaconda: these are large snakes that can be found in forests and rainforests in South America. Four different species are currently identified. It is the heaviest snake in the world, although not the longest.
7- Anteater: belonging to the Vermilingua sub-order, which means "worm's tongue", this mammal is known for its habit of eating ants and termites. Their species vary by location, but they are generally found in Mexico, Central, and South America.
8- Armadillo: these are mammals that have a shell that covers their body. Recent studies show that a species of giant armadillo, now extinct, existed 35 million years ago.
9- Beetle: this animal has the greatest variety of species among insects. They can be found in jungles and rainforests around the world. They were considered sacred in ancient Egypt.
10- Chimpanzee: it is one of the best known species of primates. Along with the gorilla, it is the one of two exclusively African ape species. They can be found in their natural environment in the jungle of the Congo.
From left to right: echidna, leopard and coati
11- Leopard: it is one of the five species of big cats of the genus Panthera. They are found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia. It is considered a species vulnerable to extinction, so its hunting is prohibited.
12- Coati: This native American mammal belongs to the raccoon family. It receives different names depending on the country, including badger, pizote and cusumbo. In the wild they can live up to 8 years.
13- Cuscus: is the name given to some species of possums that inhabit the jungles and tropical forests of Indonesia.
14- Echidna: this oviparous mammal is one of the only four remaining species of the order Monotremata (along with the platypus or platypus), the only mammals that can lay eggs. It can be found in Australia.
15- Flying frog: it is an amphibian belonging to the tree frog species. They live in India, Japan, Madagascar, Africa and Southeast Asia. They have webs between their toes, which allows them to soften their fall when gliding, which gives them their nickname.
From left to right: quokka, red panda and iguana
16- Iguana: this species of omnivorous lizard inhabits tropical climate areas in Mexico, Central and South America. Its name comes from the word in the Taino language "iwana".
17- Lemur: it is a primate native to Madagascar. Its name comes from the word lemurs, which were ghosts in Roman mythology. They feed on fruits and leaves and can weigh up to 9 kilograms.
18- Quokka: it is a small marsupial mammal, similar to that of a common cat. It is herbivorous and mostly nocturnal. They can be found on islands off the coast of Australia.
19- Red panda: it is a native mammal of the Himalayas and southwest China. It has a reddish coat and a long, fluffy tail. It feeds mainly on bamboo. It is an endangered species.
20- Tapir: this large herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, inhabits the jungles and tropical forests of South America and Southeast Asia. All its species are in danger of extinction.
21- Turaco: these birds of the Musophagidae family, which means “banana eaters”, can be found in Southeast Africa. They have prominent crests and long tails as well as pigment in the feathers that gives them a bright green color.
22- Tamarin: it is a small primate, like that of a squirrel, which has a distinctive mustache on its face. They inhabit the jungles of Central and South America.
23- Aye-aye: This species of nocturnal lemur is native to Madagascar and has rodent teeth that grow perpetually.
25- Banteng: it is a species of wild beef that can be found in Southeast Asia. They are used as work animals and as food.