TOP 10 RAINFOREST ANIMALS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The animals of the rainforest are very diverse. This is because the flora there is divided into several layers. In each layer there is a different type of vegetation due to factors such as sunlight and contact with water, among others.

This division provides shelter and food for some fifteen million animals. The world's rainforests are found around the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The forests that exist on the planet are the Amazon forest of South America (the largest in the world), the tropical forest of Africa, the tropical forest of Madagascar and the tropical forests of Asia.

These are found in low latitudes. The temperature is around 27 ° C, with a humidity of 85%. Therefore, rains are recorded practically every day of the year.

Two-thirds of the world's flora and fauna inhabit tropical forests, and there are still many species that have not been classified.

You may also be interested in the fauna of Mexico or this list of some of its endemic animals.

The 10 most outstanding animals of the rainforest

1- Blue and yellow macaw

This bird belonging to the parrot family is distributed from Panama to northern Argentina. In addition to their vibrant blue and yellow colors, they have long tails and beaks.

The male and female are practically the same size: eighty centimeters long. They are monogamous pairs that form their nest in hollows of palm trees. There the female lays 2 or 3 eggs.

They feed mainly on seeds, fruits and plants. Some of these plants are often toxic, so they consume clay from riverbanks to counteract the damaging effects.

2- Electric eel

Native to South America, electric eels inhabit calm water areas such as streams and swamps.

Their body is around two meters long and they weigh about twenty kilograms.

Their body works like a battery: they can emit up to eight hundred volts. The head is equivalent to the positive pole and the tail to the negative pole.

They primarily emit electric shocks to hunt and defend themselves, although they also do so to communicate with other eels.

Although their name indicates otherwise, these fish are not related to eels, but to catfish.

3- Chameleon

The chameleon is a scaly reptile known worldwide for its color change. This change is generated as a result of light and temperature, and it takes place when it wants to camouflage itself or attract the attention of the female.

Chameleons are carnivorous animals and feed mainly on insects. Being an extremely slow animal, it uses its tongue to hunt, which shoots out of its mouth at a speed of approximately 58 meters per second.

Although most chameleons inhabit Africa and Madagascar, they can be found in forest environments in other regions of the world. There are about 160 different species.

4- Madagascar boa

The Madagascar boa is a nocturnal constrictor snake that is about 2 meters long and feeds on small mammals and birds.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified this animal as of Least Concern; however, its natural habitat has been greatly reduced as a result of deforestation.

5- Jaguar

Although the jaguar looks a lot like the leopard, both are different sizes and also differ in spots and tail length.

The jaguar inhabits the American continent, while the leopard in Africa and Asia.

This feline was distributed in a large part of the American continent: from the south of the United States to Argentina.

Currently its natural habitat has been reduced to regions of the Amazon rainforest and its surroundings.

The jaguar is characterized by being a solitary animal with nocturnal hunting habits, although it also hunts during the daytime. He is also a good tree climber and swimmer.

6- Western gorilla

Western gorillas live in groups of up to 20 members, with an alpha male at the head who is the only one who can mate with females.

They are relatively nomadic since they migrate to other places only when they must seek new sources of food.

These primates live for about 40 years in their natural habitat. Currently the IUCN has declared that the conservation status for this species is critically endangered.

7- African forest elephant

This elephant is smaller than the one that lives in the savannah, something that is quite logical given that this size facilitates movement between the trees.

In addition, he has a darker skin tone and straighter fangs; as their tusks have less curvature, possible inconveniences with lianas and vines are avoided.

These mammals live mainly in the forests of central Africa, move in herds and have a nomadic behavior.

8- Madagascar Gecko

The Madagastar gecko is a small arboreal reptile approximately 25 centimeters long that inhabits tropical rain forests.

These animals show a very territorial behavior; in 90% of cases a confrontation between two males ends with one of the two dead.

They feed on small insects and the nectar of flowers. They are very docile for captivity and can live up to 20 years under human care.

9- Pink dolphin

The pink dolphin lives in the rivers of the Amazon. It differs greatly from the dolphins that live in the sea as they belong to different families, but they are also friendly and social creatures.

They acquire the pink color over time as a result of the wear of their skin. In their first years of life they are gray.

To hunt small river fish, these animals surround their prey concentrating them in large numbers, and then take turns eating.

In addition to fish, they also eat turtles and carrabs.

10- Harpy Eagle

It is the most powerful eagle on the planet, named after the Spanish conquerors upon their arrival on the American continent.

Its name comes from a mythological being from ancient Greece, half woman and half bird of prey.

They live in the center and south of the American continent, from Mexico to Argentina. Their nests are in the treetops and they are monogamous pairs.

This bird of prey is at the top of the food chain. It feeds mainly on monkeys and sloths, which it hunts alone or together with its partner.

References

1. Benduhn, T. (2008). Life in the rainforests. Milwaukee: Weekly Reader Early Learning Library.
2. Roumanis, A. (2017). The tropical jungles. New York, NY: AV2 by Weigl.
3. Salas, L. & Yesh, J. (2008). Rainforests: green worlds. Minneapolis, Minn: Picture Window Books.
4. Marent, T. (2009). Tropical forests. Barcelona: Blume.
5. Santos, D. (1993). Tropical forests. Barcelona: National Geographic Society Folio.
6. Folch, R. 1994. Biosfera, 2. Selves tropicals. Enciclopèdia Catalana, Barcelona, ​​pp: 17-112, 148-156.