MAMMALS
Through movies and the mass media, people have this misconception that large ferocious mammals are abundant in the rainforest. That is no true as species of small rodents are the most abundant. Their small size makes them better adapted to the dense forage. The most common animals you can find in the tropical rainforest are the paca and the agouti. Both are large, tailless rodents. Most of them are omnivorous and they play an important role in the dispersal of seeds.
The paca is a nocturnal animal, living in underground burrows, under roots of huge trees. Their coat is reddish brown with white spots on each side.
Agoutis are smaller than pacas, and have about ten species of them. They too live in burrows, but agoutis are active during the day. Their coats are also similar to that of the pacas, without the spots. They feed mainly on fruits; thus they help in the dispersal of the seeds of many fruit bearing trees. One such seeds that depends on the agouti for dispersal is the Brazil nut. A hard rounded woody shell protects these nuts and only the agouti’s sharp teeth is strong enough to break open these nuts. In the rainforest of Asia and Africa, two relatives of antelope that are similar in size to the agouti and paca are the chevrotain and the royal antelope.
Another common rodent is the spiny rat. Even though abundant, they are rarely seen due to their shy nature. They have bristly hairs and sharp quills looking just like a hedgehog. The quills are raised when threatened and can be detached and embedded in the skin of predators.
MORE INFO ON THE WEB
| http://www.brazosport.cc.tx.us/~fshaffer/critters/smice.htm Some info about the spiny rat as pets. Has a couple of good pictures of them. |
Larger mammals such as the peccaries, okapi and wild cats roam the forest floor as well. One familiar sight in nearly all tropical rainforest of the world is the peccaries. They resemble wild pigs and are often seen foraging the forest floor for food. They often move in groups. The white-lipped peccaries form large groups of up to a hundred members and will not be reluctant to attack humans. These peccaries have been known to cause death among humans. They have extremely strong jaws.
MORE INFO ON THE WEB
| http://eco-adventure.magnet.com/disc/d8.html Contain very simple fact on the peccaries and a couple of pictures |
Done with animals that looks like pigs, we now look at the true pigs of the rainforest. Pigs that roam the rainforest floor are bigger than the peccaries some species of pigs are endangered and near the edge of extinction. One such species are the pygmy hog found in forests of Northeastern India. The bearded pig of Southeast Asia has also been overhunted for its meat and now also suffers the same fate as the pygmy hogs.
MORE INFO ON THE WEB
| http://www.animalinfo.org/species/artiperi/sus_salv.htm A very factual piece of information on the pygmy hog |
Deer that inhabits the rainforest are usually smaller. This small size has proven to be much more effective in this sort of habitat. One of these small deer is the brocket. Their small size and reddish brown coat enables to suit very well among the undergrowth of the forest. They feet on seedling fruit and leaves on the forest floor. The male of this species has a pair on antlers. Another small species of deer duiker, found in the forest of Africa. It has many species and they are well adapted to living on the forest floor.
MORE INFO ON THE WEB
| http://www.sdcs.k12.ca.us/roosevelt/duikeradaptations.html A list of duikers' adaptations |
| http://www.selu.com/bio/wildlife/mammal/duiker/ blue_duiker01.jpg A picture of a blue duiker |
Another large mammal that occupies the forest, but not exactly a deer, is the okapi. A large hoofed mammal, it falls under the family of giraffe. They inhabit the forests of the Congo basin live in the densest and hardly accessible forest. Its has the size of a large antelope, about five feet at the shoulder. It has many features of a giraffe including the presence of two horned pedicels and a short tufted tail. However, unlike the giraffe, its neck is short and maneless. Its body colour range from reddish brown to black with white cheeks and alternate black and white pattern on the hindlegs. It feeds mainly on leaves of trees.
MORE INFO ON THE WEB
| http://www.brookfield-zoo.mus.il.us/animals/okapi.html Has a picture of the Okapi with a few descriptions about its habit. |
Carnivorous cats also inhabit the forest floor. Cat species such as civets and genets are more widely seen while larger cats such as the leopards and clouded leopards are less common. For more information on these species of cats that roam the forest floor, visit the section on "Rainforest Hunters" under Cats.