| Tropical
rainforests are home of many kinds of animals. Even those animals you can't even think of
can be found in tropical rainforests. But you've probably heard of some of them: jaguars,
toucans, parrots, gorillas, and tarantulas all make their home in tropical rainforests.
But have you ever heard of the aye-aye? Or the okapi? There are so many fascinating
animals in tropical rainforests that millions haven't been named or even identified yet.
In fact, about half of all the earth's animal species live in tropical rainforests. Scientists believe that there is a great diversity of animals living in the rainforest because rainforests are the oldest ecosystems on earth. Some rainforests in Southeast Asia have been around for at least 100 million years. The rainforest is home to monkeys and apes that feed on the fruit and leaves that grow there. Monkeys spend most of their time leaping around the tops of the trees in the forest. Monkeys either have long arms that help them to manuever through the trees or they swing by their long tails. Monkeys and Apes can be found on various continents. Monkeys live in Asia, Africa and South America. Gorillas and chimps live in Africa, and orangutans and gibbons live in Southeast Asia. Some rainforest species have populations that number in the millions. Other species consist of only a few dozen individuals. Living in limited areas, most of these species cannot be found in other part of the world. |
Trips to: Learn More!
Something Interesting |
© Copyright 1999, ThinkQuest team 26634 |
|