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Tropical Rainforest Species

By: Furia Andress The tropical rainforest is home to many animals and plants as well as playing an important role in the Earth's ecology. It's the plants that are found in the tropical rainforest that are responsible for much of the oxygen that is produced on the planet. Many of the plants in the rainforest are also important in the fight against disease due to their healing properties.

Tropical rainforest is home to many rare animal species such as the Brazilian Tapir, found only in some areas of South America. Brazilian Tapir is a mammal which likes to live near water swimming and diving, feeding on leaves and small branches. Being naturally afraid of anything larger than itself it is harmless to man. It likes to live mainly near the lakes and ponds that are present in the tropical rainforest. Besides this there are many other unique animals that have made this beautiful rainforest their home.

There are also many varieties of birds to be found in the rainforest. One such bird is the Crested Guan, which can be found on the northern tip of South America. This bird lives in the tall trees of the rainforest and lives off of the seeds and fruits that are available on the floor of the tropical rainforest.

After animals and birds it is the turn of the reptiles. One unusual reptile species is the reptile called "Flying Dragon" found in the forests of Indonesia and the Philippines. It derives its name from the fact that it can fly from one tree to another with its skin flaps. It lives on insects and ants. This forest also has another use for these reptiles. At breeding time, these reptiles bury their eggs in the fertile soil of the rainforest to breed.

The Slow Loris is another animal that is unique to the tropical rainforest. This animal will spend most of his day in the tops of trees sleeping quietly. At night you'll find him feeding on shoots and leaves, small birds, bird's eggs, and insects that he finds on the ground. The Loris is a very slow mover but you'll rarely see him stumble as he makes his way from tree top to the forest floor. You might even see him hanging upside down from his feet.

There are many different types of snakes that can only be found in the tropical rainforest. One of these snakes is the Vine Snake, which lives in central and northern South America. This snake eats small birds which it steals from nests, as well as lizards that it finds on the ground and in the trees of the forest. This snake is called a "vine snake' because it very thin, approximately a half inch in diameter. When frightened by a predator the Vine Snake will stop what it is doing and swing gently from side to side, much like a vine in the wind.

Besides the above mentioned species, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of animal species living in the tropical rainforests. Most of these animals have developed unique features that help them survive in this beautiful, but demanding, environment. The tropical rainforest is amazing to see - a wonderful learning opportunity to observe a rare part of the world and the plants and animals that live there.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Furia Andress is the chief editor for Furia Tropical, a fantastic resource for information about all things tropical, For questions or comments about this article why not visit: www.furiatropical.com/articles
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