Some rainforest animals

The Brazilian tapir lives in South American rainforests, near water or swamps. It swims and dives well, and moves fast on land also. An adult tapir is about 2 m long, with a 6-8 cm tail. The color is dark brown, and it has a low stiff mane running down the back of its neck. It has a flexible snout that helps push food into its mouth. Its diet consists of fruit, grasses, water plants, buds, leaves, shoots and small branches. Young tapirs have a pattern of spots and stripes. Female tapirs give birth to one young about 400 days after mating with a male tapir. Tapirs are not endangered.

Chimpanzees are found in parts of Africa, in rainforest and in grassland areas with trees. They are classified as vulnerable. Chimpanzees communicate with each other using a wide range of sounds and gestures. They have strong bodies and long limbs. They generally walk on all fours, though they can stand upright. Their arms are powerful, and longer than their legs. They have narrow, long hands and feet, with thumbs on their hands similar to those of humans. Males are slightly larger than females. The fur is generally blackish, and their faces are lighter colored. They have very mobile lips and rounded non furry ears. Chimpanzees spend most of the time on the ground, and can climb well.

Rainforest chimpanzees live in changeable troops of males, females with young, or males and females without young. Savanna (grasslands) chimpanzees generally live in more stable troops of 1 or more males, several females and their young.

Chimpanzees have a home range, the size of which depends on the size of the troop and on the food supply. Chimpanzees are diurnal, or active in the daytime. They are omnivorous, feeding early in the morning on fruit, nuts, leaves and other plant material, but also on eggs and insects. They use sticks as tools to dig out ants or other insects from their hiding places. Savanna chimpanzees will sometimes kill young animals for food.

Chimpanzees generally spend the night in nests they make in trees. Young ones sleep with their mothers. Females generally give birth to one young, occasionally twins, about 230 days after mating with a male. Young animal stay close to their mothers for up to 3 years.

Aye-aye Gorilla Malayan Tapir Orangutan

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For animals of Australia's Daintree forest go to http://www.daintree-rec.com.au/daintree.html

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More about rainforests

If you use any part of this, acknowledge it in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham & Thomas Rainforest Biome [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2002)

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updated November 2007 copyright kidcyber