| The tropical forests occur near the equator where temperature and light levels remain similar all year. Where the rainfall is also spread evenly throughout the year, tropical rainforests occur; where precipitation levels vary and there is a pronounced dry season, tropical moist forests grow, and in areas with less moisture are dry forests and savannas. |
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Top: The rainforest canopy often reaches heights of 150 feet (45 meters), and in some places is much higher, blocking
most of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Above and Right: Torch ginger and bananas are lower growing, understory species.
Photos by Maya Walters.
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Of these forest types, the rainforests are the most well-known. Often, seasonal moist forests are also referred to as rainforests, but traditionally a rainforest does not have a pronounced dry season. The rainforests are home to more species of plants and animals than any other habitat in the world. While the location of a particular forest will determine which species can be found within (orang-utans do not live in South America; sloths do not inhabit Asia), rainforests throughout the tropics have a similar overall appearance. |
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[climate] [water] [seasons] [biodiversity] [sloths]
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