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Get a marker and some paper and follow along with us! Today we're going to draw another bird. Learn how to draw a realistic toucan. If you'd like to use the same materials we use, here's more info about the oil pastels.

And if you like this lesson, check out our other bird art projects.

Watch How To Draw A Realistic Toucan

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How To Draw A Realistic Toucan - Art For Kids Hub -

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Get a marker and some paper and follow along with us! Today we're going to draw another bird. Learn how to draw a realistic toucan. If you'd like to use the same materials we use, here's more info about the oil pastels. And if you like this lesson, check out our other bird art projects.

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EXPERIENCE Real Support

Access on-demand teaching strategies, interactive professional development courses, and membership to the Discovery Educator Network-one of the largest professional networks of educators in the world.

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Access on-demand teaching strategies, interactive professional development courses, and membership to the Discovery Educator Network-one of the largest professional networks of educators in the world.

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instant access to thousands of great kids books.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Famous Rainforests

There are rainforests in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. The biggest rainforest is the Amazon rainforest. It's about the size of the contiguous United States, which doesn't include Alaska or Hawaii. More than half of it is in Brazil, but parts are in several other South American countries, including Ecuador and Bolivia. The next biggest rainforest is the Congo in Africa. Parts of the Congo can be found in several other countries too, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

Most rainforests are found along or near the Equator, where it tends to be hot. But some rainforests grow in temperate regions where it's cooler. Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park on the Pacific northwest coast of North America is an example of a temperate rainforest. Like tropical rainforests, temperate rainforests get lots of, well, rain.

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Facts4Me - A Safe and Secure Research Site

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Read this PDF book about monkeys of the Rain Forest

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When you think of the Amazon, what comes to mind? Some may envision thick, impenetrable jungle. Others may imagine monkeys and other creatures thriving in a environment . Adventurers may remember ancient legends about lost civilizations and ancient cities of gold.

But what about small villages of indigenous peoples living near a small river that believe is the home of powerful spirits? A river so hot that anything that happens to fall into it gets alive?

Does that sound like the stuff of myths and legends? That's what Andrés Ruzo always thought when his grandfather would tell him stories about a river deep in the Amazon jungle of Peru called Shanay-timpishka, which loosely translates to " with the heat of the Sun."

According to legend, the headwaters of this river were marked by a shaped like a 's head. The hot waters of the river supposedly came from a giant snake spirit called Yacumama ("Mother of the Waters").

Ruzo believed the river was only a myth until he created a thermal map of Peru as part of his graduate studies to become a geophysicist. He noticed a large hot spot in the central Peruvian Amazon. He was eventually able to find and study the Boiling River of the Amazon, which flows near a small indigenous community called Mayantuyacu.

Although known by local and indigenous peoples for hundreds of years and even discovered by foreign oil field researchers in the 1930s, the Boiling River has only been studied recently after Ruzo took an interest in this geologic .

The total Boiling River system is about 5.5 miles long. The waters of the river start off cold, but they heat up and flow hot for about the last four miles of the river. How hot? The steaming waters can reach temperatures of about 200˚ F, which is hot enough to kill just about any creature unlucky enough to fall into its waters.

This unusually-large thermal river is about as wide as a two-lane road for most of its length. It reaches up to 80 feet at its widest point, and its deepest point reaches nearly 16 feet. Despite its tremendous volume, the Boiling River is a natural feature that's non-.

Ruzo's studies indicate that the Boiling River is the result of -fed hot springs. The lines and cracks that run deep underneath the ground like arteries fill with water that down from the surface after it rains.

Earth's geothermal energy heats this water to near the boiling point. Through various faults and cracks, it eventually makes its way back to the surface. Geothermal features aren't uncommon, as hot springs and thermal pools can be found in many places.

What makes the Boiling River so unique is that there's such a large volume of extremely hot water that's not related to a source. This means the water must come from very deep below the surface, but it also must come very quickly with a tremendous volume.

The underground features that make this possible are very . In fact, Ruzo believes there's no other thermal river of this anywhere else on Earth.

Recognizing what an incredible phenomenon the Boiling River is, Ruzo is now working with the Peruvian government to have the Boiling River and the surrounding jungle declared a national monument. He hopes to protect the area from deforestation and other activities that could endanger the unique ecosystem.

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Where Is the Boiling River of the Amazon?

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When you think of the Amazon, what comes to mind? Some may envision thick, impenetrable jungle. Others may imagine monkeys and other creatures thriving in a environment . Adventurers may remember ancient legends about lost civilizations and ancient cities of gold.

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Rainforest Alliance has information on the different animals of the rainforest

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We are building a powerful alliance to create a better future for people and nature.

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The Amazon Rainforest is without a doubt one of the true wonders of the world. There are amazing animals and creatures and so much to see that it would astound you. This is one big massive rainforest that's for sure. Read on for cool facts about this awesome place.

What you need to know about the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is in South America and covers 5,438,975km² of land. That's seriously big. It travels across nine different countries. Isn't that amazing! Brazil has 60%, Peru has 13%, and Colombia has 10% while other countries have small parts of the rainforest in their borders. It is the largest rainforest in the world. Not surprising when you think about how big it is. If it were a state, the Amazon Rainforest is so huge that it would have been the 9th biggest country as a whole. Wow!

The Amazon rainforest has been around for at least 55 million years. Whoa, that is one old rainforest we're talking about!

A lot of the species in the Amazon Rainforest you can't find anywhere else in the world! This is definitely the place to go exploring, to see what you can find. There are over 2.5 million species of insects, more than 40,000 different varieties of plants, 1,500 bird species and over 2,000 fish species.

If you had to walk down on the floor of the rainforest you wouldn't be able to see all that much as it's seriously dark. Very little sunlight makes it down there as there is a massive big canopy of trees that cover the top of the rainforest. If it started raining, it would take 10 minutes for you to get wet!

Did you know that there are absolutely loads of medicines that we use today that have come from plants in the rainforest, and only 1% of these have been tested. That's amazing. With all those 40,000 species of plants, can you imagine how many more medicines and vaccines could be found to help people?

There are about 50 tribes that are native to the Amazon Rainforest that have never had any contact with the outside world at all! Wow, they would probably get a big shock if they ever had to come into contact with the modern world as we know it today.

In 1500 there were between 6 and 9 million Amazon natives. Today there are only an estimated 250,000 left. The Amazon natives speak about 170 different languages.

If you go exploring, keep a sharp lookout for some dangerous animals like anacondas, cougars and jaguars! You don't want to be stalked by one of these do you? But there's more, watch out for vampire bats and poisonous dart frogs too.

About 2.7 million acres of the rainforest are burnt each year, which is bad for everyone as forests and trees help to keep our air clean.

Interesting Facts about the Amazon Rainforest

The is the loudest creature in the Amazon rainforest. You can hear them from almost 1km away. Wow, that's a loud bird, don't think it would be cool to be too close it might hurt your ears!

The name 'Amazon' actually comes from a war between Francisco de Orallana, the first European to travel the length of the Amazon River and a number of South American tribes. The tribeswomen and men fought together, so Orallana called them Amazons after the fierce female warriors from Greek mythology. Think he must have been pretty scared!

In the Amazon it rains about every four days in a week...that's a lot of rain. It can add up to 10m a year. That is the same height as a three-story building! No wonder they call it a rainforest!

At different times of the year the Amazon River can be 480km wide. That's more than the distance between New York City and Boston. Whoa!

The amount of water that flows from the Amazon River into the Atlantic every single day is enough water for all the people of New York City, for an astounding 9 years!

Did you know that this seriously long river doesn't have one bridge that crosses it? Wow!

The Amazon rainforest is more than half of the entire world's remaining rainforests.

The rainforest is home to 10% of the known species in the world. That's a lot for one area!

Scientists think that if climate change were to increase the world's temperature by only 3⁰C then 75% of the Amazon would be destroyed. No ways, that's scary!

The Amazon Rainforest is also called the 'Lungs of the Planet'. Why? Well amazingly it gives us more than 20% of the world's oxygen that we need.

The last 100 years have seen the rainforest being destroyed at about 1.5 acres per second. Yes, you read right, per second.

This is really sad, as all the forests continue to be cut down, 137 rainforest species are destroyed every single day! That is frightening. How many species will become extinct? Scientists think about 50,000 per year!

Everybody thinks that big corporations are coming in and cutting down the trees, but 60% to 80% of the reason that the forest is disappearing is due to cattle ranching. That's quite something.

This is very cool. A new river has been discovered and it's about the same length as the Amazon River. It is 6,000km long and between 200 to 400m wide, which is wider than the mouth of the Amazon River. But where in the world is this river? Well it's called the Rio Hamza, and it's underground, yep underground. Even though it's pretty wide, it's more like a big trickle than the flowing gush of the Amazon River. That's amazing.

The Amazon Rainforest is a very precious place on Earth, and we need to protect it to make sure it survives for years to come. Hope you enjoyed these facts and next time you have a Geography test, let's hope you get full marks, now that you know all there is to know!

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The Amazon Rainforest is without a doubt one of the true wonders of the world. There are amazing animals and creatures and so much to see that it would astound you. This is one big massive rainforest that's for sure. Read on for cool facts about this awesome place.

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Read this digital book about different rainforest babies

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Environmental education materials for kids

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Read this digital book

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Read all about the kinkajou

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Here in Wonderopolis, we sure enjoy learning about cute animals. We've read all about the dumbo octopus. We've investigated the red panda and gone in search of white tigers. But today's Wonder of the Day may be cute enough to them all. Today, we're learning about the kinkajou!

Where can you find a kinkajou? They're common in major zoos. But if you'd like to visit these animals in the wild, head for Central and South America. Kinkajous live in rainforests from southern Mexico to Brazil.

Kinkajous are also called honey bears. Can you guess why? If you're thinking they must like honey, you're right! In fact, kinkajous love honey. They're known to use their long, thin tongues to swipe honey straight from a beehive!

The kinkajou's tongue can grow up to five inches (13 cm) long. That makes it useful for not only swiping honey but also for taking from flowers. Honey, , and fruit make up most of a kinkajou's diet. However, experts actually these animals as carnivores. That's because they have canine teeth and sometimes eat eggs, insects, and small vertebrates.

Based on the name "honey bear," you might expect the kinkajou to resemble a bear. But that's not the case. They're only about 16 to 30 inches (42-76cm) long. Of course, their tails nearly double their total length. Kinkajous are also light, weighing between three and ten pounds (1.4 to 4.5 kg).

A kinkajou's tail may be its most defining feature. It's prehensile, meaning the kinkajou uses it to objects. They use their tails to climb and swing from tree limbs. Sometimes, the tail as a fifth hand, helping the kinkajou to balance and grab food.

Based on this description, many would think the kinkajou must be related to monkeys. But they're more closely connected to raccoons and ringtails. Like these animals, kinkajous are also , hunting for their prey at night.

During the day, kinkajous sleep, hidden in dark parts of the rainforest. This keeps them safe from predators like jaguars and eagles. When surprised by a predator, their unique feet come in handy. Kinkajous can rotate their feet 180 degrees. This lets them run backward as quickly as they can run forward.

What does a kinkajou family look like? Sometimes, these animals live alone. However, they can also be found in small groups. In particular, kinkajou babies stay with their mothers for up to two years.

In recent years, kinkajous have also become a popular choice for an pet. While they do well in zoos and are gentle if domesticated early, most kinkajous belong in the wild. As with all pets, people should think twice and check local laws before bringing a kinkajou into their homes.

Have you ever seen a kinkajou? Would you like to spot one at the zoo or in the wild one day? Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll even catch sight of one dangling from a tree branch in the wild! They're certainly one of the cutest rainforest animals we've learned about in Wonderopolis lately.

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Here in Wonderopolis, we sure enjoy learning about cute animals. We've read all about the dumbo octopus. We've investigated the red panda and gone in search of white tigers. But today's Wonder of the Day may be cute enough to them all. Today, we're learning about the kinkajou!

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Do you have dreams at night? We often have dreams...at least we think we do. After we up, we usually can't remember much about our dreams.

We do remember a dream we had the other night, though. We were lost in a sea of weeds and vines. The of monkeys and parrots all around us. We tried to use a to our way to , but the vines wrapped around our legs...and then we woke up!

vines... weeds ...monkeys...parrots...we must have been in a jungle! Although most of us have never been in a real jungle, we know all about them from books we've read and movies we've seen.

But what exactly is a jungle? A jungle is a type of forest. Every jungle is a forest, but not every forest is a jungle. Jungles are very types of forests that are part of the tropical rainforest .

Tropical rainforests and jungles aren't exactly the same thing, though. True rainforests have an tree canopy that blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground. As a result, there are few trees and relatively little undergrowth at ground level in a rainforest. This makes it easier to walk through a rainforest than a jungle.

In contrast, a jungle features nearly- impenetrable vegetation at ground level. The tree canopy in a jungle is much thinner, allowing plenty of light to reach the ground.

This light, combined with the warm temperatures and rainfall characteristic of the tropics, allows vines, grasses, flowers, shrubs, mosses, and all sorts of other plants and vegetation to thrive. Within rainforests, you'll often find jungle areas along the edges of rivers or in areas where trees have fallen.

Many different types of insects and animals call jungles home. Exotic animals such as snakes, monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, macaws, parrots, crocodiles, and big cats can be found in the world's jungles.

The variety of plant and animal life in jungles is truly astounding. Experts believe jungles contain more species of plants, insects, and animals per acre than anywhere else on Earth. In fact, jungles are home to more than half the plant and animal species on the planet.

Given the conditions necessary to form jungles, it's no surprise that they tend to form in tropical areas, especially near the equator. Most jungles can be found in Central America, northern South America, western Africa, and Southeast Asia.

If you want to visit the world's largest jungle, you'll need to head to South America. The jungle areas of the Amazon rainforest are some of the wildest, densest jungle areas on Earth. They're also home to the greatest variety of plant and animal species found anywhere!

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Do you have dreams at night? We often have dreams...at least we think we do. After we up, we usually can't remember much about our dreams. We do remember a dream we had the other night, though. We were lost in a sea of weeds and vines.

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you're through the dense rainforest of South America. Along the way, you up at the trees in amazement. Later, you crouch down to get a better look at some bugs. A flash of color catches your eye and you realize it's a poison dart frog.

You're tempted to get a closer look at this amphibian but you WONDER, are poison dart frogs really that ? In this Wonder of the Day, let's find out!

There are many that make up the family of poison frogs native to Central and South America. These frogs tend to live amongst the leaves on the rainforest near ponds or streams, although a few live in the trees and never come down.

Poison frogs are known for their , vivid colors. You can find them in just about any color combination you can think of. The colors you're likely to see include red, black, yellow, green, blue, gold, copper, orange, silver, and pink.

These flashy colors make poison frogs stand out, but they don't make them easy prey. Instead, their coloring is a defense mechanism that protects them from predators. Their colors serve as a that their skin is , so it's best not to eat them. In order to be easily seen by potential predators, poison frogs are diurnal, which means they're mainly active during the day.

Exactly how are poison frogs? That can be hard to . Some are not at all. Most poison frog are considered but not deadly. The poison in their skin can cause swelling, nausea, and if touched or eaten without necessarily being fatal.

A few , however, are considered to be among the deadliest animals on Earth. For example, the golden poison dart frog has especially skin with enough poison to kill as many as 10 grown men.

The indigenous peoples of Colombia are known to dip the tips of their blowgun darts in this powerful poison when hunting. This practice is what gives poison dart frogs their popular name.

Each poison frog develops a unique kind of toxin, and scientists believe the poisons come from the frogs' diet, which can include various rainforest insects such as ants, beetles, centipedes, and termites. This is why poison frogs kept in zoos or in captivity are not . Without the unique diet provided by rainforest insects, these frogs never develop the poisons.

Although to humans and animals, frog poisons may soon provide medicinal benefits to humans. Scientists researching frog poisons believe they can be modified and turned into medicines to treat pain and heart and circulatory conditions.

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you're through the dense rainforest of South America. Along the way, you up at the trees in amazement. Later, you crouch down to get a better look at some bugs. A flash of color catches your eye and you realize it's a poison dart frog.

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Physical Description

The Panamanian golden frog is a small, brightly colored and toad-like. The head is longer than it is broad with a pointed, protuberant snout. The body is slim with long limbs, and the upper surface is smooth with minute spicules. The sexes have similar coloration, which is usually uniform golden yellow with one to several large black dorsal spots. Normally, the abdomen is also yellow, but when carrying eggs, the female's ventral surface is a lighter color. The Panamanian golden frog is the most toxic species of Atelopus, with the skin of a single individual containing enough toxins to kill 1,200 mice. Its extremely bright coloration is adaptive to warning predators.

Adult males measure between 1.3 and 1.9 inches (35 to 48 millimeters) and weigh 0.1 to 0.4 ounces (3 to 12 grams); and females measure between 1.8 and 2.5 inches (45 and 63 millimeters) and weigh 0.1 to 0.5 ounces (4 to 15 grams). Wet forest males and females are larger than dry forest frogs.

Native Habitat

This species inhabits streams along the slopes of the central rainforests and cloud forests of western-central Panama, from 1,100 to 4,300 feet (335 to 1,315 meters) above sea level. Panamanian golden frogs live in two types of habitats: wet forest streams and dry forest streams.

Food/Eating Habits

The Panamanian golden frog is predominantly an insectivore. Its diet consists mostly of insects and other small invertebrates. They use their eyes to find prey.

Adult Panamanian golden frogs at the Zoo receive a diet of bean beetles, fruit flies and crickets. In the early stages of development froglets are fed springtails.

Reproduction and Development

Panamanian golden frogs reproduce mainly along streams and other sources of moving water. Males lack vocal sacs and attract females by visual displays that can include leg and head twitching, stamping the ground, and hopping in place. During mating, the female deposits 30 to 75 eggs in long strings in shallow water as the male fertilizes them.

Tadpoles have a flattened body and an abdominal sucker, which keeps them from being swept away in the current. Tadpoles are completely white for the first few days after hatching, developing their color after a few days.

Sleep Habits

Panama golden frogs are diurnal, or active during the day.

Little definitive information exists on the life span of the Panamanian golden frog but most estimates put life span between ten and 15 years.

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Physical Description The Panamanian golden frog is a small, brightly colored and toad-like. The head is longer than it is broad with a pointed, protuberant snout. The body is slim with long limbs, and the upper surface is smooth with minute spicules.

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Physical Description

Red-bellied piranhas are red on their undersides from chin and cheeks to belly. The head and body are various shades of gray; their sides are flecked with bright silver scales. The piranha's distinctly rounded and snub-nosed profile serves a function.

Beneath the high forehead are powerful muscles that attach to a short, stout lower jaw fitted with triangular, razor sharp teeth, which interlock neatly with a matching set above. This design allows piranhas to bite down with incredible force and shearing ability. However, these formidable teeth are not usually visible, being covered by thick, fleshy lips.

Food/Eating Habits

In the wild, a good portion of their diet consists of fins nipped from the tails of larger fish. Additional items on a piranha's menu can include bits of flesh, whole small fish, insects, aquatic invertebrates and occasionally, plant material in the form of figs and other ripe fruit.

At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, red-bellied piranhas receive a gelatin diet (a mixture of greens, proteins and micronutrients in a gelatin base), smelt, shrimp, herring and earthworms.

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True to their name, red-bellied piranhas have red undersides. Their bodies are gray and flecked with bright, silver scales. Native to the Amazon River basin, these fish are important scavengers. They tend to travel in schools of 20 or more.

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Physical Description

A sloth's body consists of a short neck with four long limbs of equal length, ending in two 3 to 4 inch (8 to 10 centimeter) long curved claws. The head is short and flat, with a snub nose, rudimentary ears, and large eyes. Sloths are a walking ecosystem. They possess a short, fine undercoat, and an overcoat of longer, coarser hairs, which turn green in moist conditions due to algae growth.

Each strand of brownish-gray hair has grooves running from top to bottom, where two species of blue-green algae grow. This greenish tint camouflages them in the forest canopy. Their fur also harbors moths, ticks and beetles. Their hair curves from stomach toward their back; this is opposite from most mammals.

Sloths maintain a low, but variable body temperature that ranges from 86 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 34 C), which falls during cooler hours of the night, in wet weather, and whenever the animals are inactive. This helps them conserve energy. Sloths have a metabolic rate that is only 40 to 45 percent of what would be expected for their body weight. They have reduced muscles, about half the relative weight of most terrestrial mammals, so they cannot afford to keep warm by shivering. They also regulate their body temperatures by moving in and out of the sun.

Food/Eating Habits

Sloths' teeth grow continuously, and have to be worn down by plant material to keep them from getting too long. To compensate for a lack of sharp teeth, they have hardened lips that shear and crop leaves. Sloths eat leaves, fruit and some select fresh green shoots (they're not keen on crunchy twigs). Though mostly herbivorous, they may occasionally snack on a larval insect or other passive, protein-packed snack (like a bird egg).

They get water from their food and by lapping dew off leaves and fruits. Food remains in their relatively short digestive tract for approximately one month. They have a low metabolic rate and feces and urine are only passed once a week at habitual sites at the base of trees. At the Zoo, sloths eat a high vegetable diet including kale, corn, apples, leaf eater biscuits, bananas, sweet potatoes and carrots.

Sleep Habits

Sloths are primarily nocturnal, sleeping for 15 hours during the day and waking up at night to eat. Sloths move slowly and deliberately. They spend most of their life hanging upside-down from tree branches, whether sleeping, eating, mating or giving birth. They descend to the ground only to change trees and locate new food sources, or to defecate.

Because of specializing and slowing their metabolisms, sloths use energy frugally and generally move slowly over small home ranges. Two-toed sloths are well camouflaged in tree canopies. Their most common resting position is to remain curled into a ball in the branches of a tree. In this position, they resemble either a termite nest or a knot in the wood. This, combined with the green color of their fur, makes for great protection from predators.

The Zoo is home to one female southern two-toed sloth, named Athena, and two males, named Vlad and Howie. Vlad and Athena live in Small Mammal House, and Howie lives in Amazonia.

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Physical Description A sloth's body consists of a short neck with four long limbs of equal length, ending in two 3 to 4 inch (8 to 10 centimeter) long curved claws. The head is short and flat, with a snub nose, rudimentary ears, and large eyes. Sloths are a walking ecosystem.

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Physical Description

Green aracaris have dark green feathers on their backs, throughout their wings and into their tails. They are sexually dimorphic birds, meaning males and females exhibit some differences in appearance. The male aracari's neck and head feathers are very dark, whereas the female aracari has dark red to brown coloration. These birds have a brightly colored red, yellow and blue bill with a unique serrated edge. Their bill is more deliberately hooked at the end than the bill of other aracaris.

Green aracaris are one of the smallest aracaris, measuring just 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 centimeters) and weighing 3.8 to 5.6 ounces (99 to 159 grams).

Native Habitat

Green aracaris inhabit tropical forests in northeast South America, specifically Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.

Communication

These birds spend the majority of their time living in small groups in the tree canopy and levels below where they forage together for food. They vocalize during mating rituals and to warn of danger.

Food/Eating Habits

Green aracaris eat fruits, insects, nuts, eggs and small animals. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they receive a balanced diet of bird pellets, fruit and cooked sweet potatoes.

Reproduction and Development

Rather than excavating its own hole to build a nest, the green aracari will take over an abandoned woodpecker hole. These existing nesting spots are usually high up in trees. The female will lay two to four eggs and incubate them for 16 to 19 days. Chicks fledge, or develop the feathers they need to fly, about five weeks after hatching. However, the parents will continue to feed the chicks until they are around 6 to 8 weeks old.

One male green aracari is on exhibit in the Small Mammal House. Two female aracaris can also be found in the Amazonia rainforest.

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Physical Description Green aracaris have dark green feathers on their backs, throughout their wings and into their tails. They are sexually dimorphic birds, meaning males and females exhibit some differences in appearance. The male aracari's neck and head feathers are very dark, whereas the female aracari has dark red to brown coloration.

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Search for your animal in the Amazonia exhibit and get lots of information.

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Venture to Amazonia and get up close to the animals that thrive along the Amazon River - the largest river basin in the world. Explore the flooded forest, rich with turtles, sting rays and arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Trek through the rainforest where titi monkeys, roseate spoonbills and yellow-rumped caciques roam free.

Catch a training session: keepers use a target to encourage the arowana to leap out of the water to catch prey, just as wild arowana do. Then, discover the buzz around Amazonia's newest exhibit, the Electric Fishes Demonstration Lab. This multisensory lab is home to a 5-foot-long electric eel, capable of generating up to 800 volts of electricity, as well as four black ghost knifefish, more than a dozen bluntnose knifefish and three elephant-nose knifefish.

The lab features LED lights, a wave-form screen and speakers powered by the electricity the electric eel generates. The lights, screen and speaker activate when the electric eel emits a charge-showing off its strength.In the Amazonia Science Gallery, get a look at cutting-edge Zoo science and learn how we are working to protect species around the globe. In the Science Gallery, you can also see two in-depth exhibits- Amphibian Alert and the Coral Lab.

At the Amphibian Alert exhibit, peer into the world of frogs, salamanders, caecilians and other threatened amphibians. Learn how Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) scientists are working to save the wild populations of these species from the deadly chytrid fungus.

At the Coral Lab exhibit, learn how corals support life in the ocean and on land. Watch the tentacles of the elegance coral sway in the current and spot clownfish hiding among the anemones.

SCBI scientists have pioneered techniques for collecting and freezing the genetic material of 12 coral species from around the world. In the future, this material could be used to repopulate reefs that are susceptible to climate change, bleaching and newly emerging diseases.

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Venture to Amazonia and get up close to the animals that thrive along the Amazon River - the largest river basin in the world. Explore the flooded forest, rich with turtles, sting rays and arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world.

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Is there anything more than a dolphin? They're one of the smartest animals on Earth, with beauty and grace to match their . It's a great thrill to watch dolphins leap from the ocean into the air. They're easy to spot, with long beaks, round heads, and bright pink skin!

Wait. Pink skin? Aren't most dolphins grey? And long beaks? If you've seen many saltwater dolphins, that may not sound quite right. But we're talking about a specific freshwater dolphin. The Amazon river dolphin, to be exact!

The Amazon river dolphin is also called the boto. It lives in the of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers of South America. When the rivers flood, they fill thousands of miles of the rainforest. This expands the boto's . During rain seasons, botos can be seen swimming through and around flooded tree roots and other plants of the rainforest.

It's the boto's looks that really set it apart from other dolphins. Special make it able to steer through trees by bending at 90-degree angles. Its beak is longer, and its forehead much rounder, than those of most dolphins you've likely seen. They're also a bit smaller, at around eight feet and 450 pounds. And yes-many Amazon river dolphins have bright pink skin!

What makes their skin pink? That's the real mystery. Experts still disagree over what causes botos to turn pink. However, they do know that all Amazon river dolphins are born grey. Some of them-usually males-turn pink later in life. And often, they grow pinker as they age.

This leads some experts to believe the pink skin is scar tissue . Male botos are known to fight a lot. They may turn pink as their bodies accumulate battle scars. This would also explain why botos become pinker with age. After all, older dolphins have likely been in more fights and gained more scars.

Other scientists believe the boto's pink skin is pink to help it hide from . After all, the mud of the flooded rainforest floor often takes on a reddish color. It would make sense for botos to develop pink skin in an attempt to blend in.

And blending in is definitely something many botos are interested in doing. Many of them tend to be very shy. That makes it difficult for experts to know just how many of them there are. When botos do show an interest in humans, though, they're very friendly. They're sometimes known to play with children in shallow water.

If you believe local legends, botos go to great lengths to be friendly with people. A South American story claims that Amazon river dolphins have the ability to turn into human beings. People say they can be seen walking near water at night, wearing hats to cover their blowholes.

Unfortunately, not all people are quite so friendly to botos. They often run into trouble with fishermen. Some fishermen use boto as bait for fish. Others kill them because they see botos as competition for fish. Many botos are also accidentally killed each year when they're caught in fishing net meant for smaller fish.

Would you like to see a boto one day? How about one as a human being? That old story may not be true, but there's still something magical about these bright pink dolphins!

NGSS.LS1.A, NGSS.LS2.C, NGSS.LS4.C, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.W.4, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.R.10

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Is there anything more than a dolphin? They're one of the smartest animals on Earth, with beauty and grace to match their . It's a great thrill to watch dolphins leap from the ocean into the air. They're easy to spot, with long beaks, round heads, and bright pink skin!

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Look for the animals of the Amazon River in the "Animals" section 

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Look for the animals of the Amazon River in the "Animals" section 

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Imagine you're one of the first explorers ever to the rainforests of South America. You've heard of a powerful river that flows through the forest. One day, you begin to hear the sounds of flowing water.

You continue to use your to through the vegetation that hides the sound of the water. Then, suddenly, you step out of the brush and find yourself on the banks of the Amazon River.

If you took a ride on the Amazon from its headwaters in the mountains of Peru to where it ends in a massive on the Atlantic Ocean, you'd be in for a ride of over 4,000 miles. For years, the scientific has been that the world's longest river is the Nile in Egypt.

However, Brazilian scientists have recently that the Amazon is longer. They believe it begins in another part of the Peruvian mountains that would add many miles to its .

Regardless of whether their claims are , the Amazon will still be the world's largest river by volume. It cuts across Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. It features scary piranhas, dangerous black caimans, and the world's largest river dolphins.

It lacks one thing, though, that makes it different than most rivers: bridges. Over the course of its 4,000-mile-plus , not a single bridge crosses the Amazon River. It cuts a nearly in half and, to cross its width, you're going to need a boat.

In today's modern world of amazing technology and spectacular engineering, it seems odd that a bridge has never been built over the Amazon. Is it even possible?

There certainly are challenges to engineering a bridge across the Amazon. While it's nowhere close to too wide to bridge during the dry season, the river routinely rises over 30 feet in the rainy season. This can turn a river crossing that's usually three miles into 30 miles or more during the rainy season.

Additionally, the banks of the Amazon are comprised of soft that constantly erodes. The river is also filled with debris and floating islands of vegetation that can measure up to 10 square acres.

These engineering challenges aren't impossible to overcome, however. So why aren't there any bridges across the Amazon? Simply put, they're just not necessary.

The Amazon River Basin is so populated that there are very few roads that could even be connected. If you want to travel throughout the Amazon rainforest, you simply take the river itself.

The millions of people who live near the Amazon get by just fine using boats and ferries. A two-mile-long bridge was recently built across the Rio Negro, the Amazon's largest tributary. The bridge connects the cities of Manaus and Iranduba in Brazil.

While the people in Manaus and especially Iranduba welcomed the new bridge, environmentalists worry about the impact it and possibly other bridges may have on the surrounding rainforests. Experts note that bridges are a first step toward further development, which in the past has led to deforestation.

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How Many Bridges Cross the Amazon River?

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Imagine you're one of the first explorers ever to the rainforests of South America. You've heard of a powerful river that flows through the forest. One day, you begin to hear the sounds of flowing water. You continue to use your to through the vegetation that hides the sound of the water.

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Mongabay.com provides news and analysis on tropical forests. The site is considered a leading source of information on tropical forests by some of the world's top ecologists and conservationists.

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7 animals

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When you take an Amazon riverboat cruiseyou will get to experience South America's vast tropical landscape. Home to the largest tropical Rainforest on Earth, the Amazon Rainforest has the most vibrant and exotic wildlife in the world.

With Rainforest Cruises you can choose a comfortable cruise package and a destination to suit you, whether it be the unspoiled Peruvian Amazon, the vast mass of the Central Amazon inBrazil, the mysticalEcuadorian Amazon, or the natural landscape of the Bolivian Amazon and the Amazon River, every part of the Amazon is a unique and exciting home to some the most diverse wildlife on the planet.

Is it easy to see wildlife in its natural environment?

Many people travel to the Amazon Rainforest with expectations of seeing jaguars, anacondas and giant otters swimming around their boat. The truth is that the Amazon is a habitat and animals often disguise themselves for protection from predators. In order to spot wildlife, you need to be very quiet and use each of your senses. Listen to leaves rustling in the trees and you may just see a monkey. Your Amazon cruise guide will help you spot 3-toed sloths, snakes, caiman, pink river dolphins and other unique Amazonian wildlife.

You may see colorful birds, such as Macaws flying home to roost in the evening. River dolphins can be seen in the tributaries of Pacaya Samiria during feeding time. One must remain calm, be patient, and let the jungle come to one. The experience is not only predicated on sightings of megafauna, but taking in the beauty and magic of the ecosystem itself. And what is certain is that you will see elements of the Natural World that will never be forgotten!

Animals to Look for on an Amazon Jungle Excursion

Here are seven incredible and unique creatures you may encounter on your cruise through the mighty Amazon. What's so magical about these creatures is their spectacular existence in the Amazon region and being able to see them in their natural habitat, surrounded by the beauty of the Amazon Rainforest.

1. Pink River Dolphin

Also known as the Amazon River Dolphin, the Pink River Dolphin is one of just three species of dolphin that live in a freshwater habitat. Found in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, it is usually found in their largest tributaries, lakes and seasonally flooded forests.

The species is threatened by river development projects, such as hydroelectric and irrigation schemes, which separate rivers and may lead to the species being unable to breed. They are also threatened by the human belief that they have spiritual powers (and so are sometimes hunted for their powers), they often get tangled up with fishing nets, and have been affected by pollution.

What's so unique about these dolphins is their unusual pinky color, long snouts and big round heads, they also have flexible necks unlike other dolphins, which means they can move their heads from left to right!

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7 Animals Seen on an Amazon Cruise | Rainforest Cruises

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Here are seven incredible and unique creatures you may encounter on your cruise through the mighty Amazon. What's so magical about these creatures is their spectacular existence in the Amazon region and being able to see them in their natural habitat, surrounded b

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Do you love trees? We do! And you should, too. Trees do all sorts of great things for humans. They take in carbon dioxide and release . They provide shade. They also give us places to build fabulous tree houses. What would we ever do without trees?

Some of the most important trees in the world live in rainforests. Even though the nearest one may be far away from you, they still help you every day.

There are two types of rainforests--temperate and tropical. The temperate forests are much cooler in temperature than the tropical ones. They also tend to be further from the . Temperate rainforests can be found in Chile, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. They also grow in parts of North America and Australia, among other places.

Tropical rainforests are very warm. They have many tall trees, plants and animals, warm climates, and lots of rain. They receive at least 80 inches of rain each year. Many receive an inch or more of rain every single day!

Tropical rainforests are found near the . The largest one in the world is the Amazon. It covers more than two million square miles of South America. Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central America also have rainforests.

All rainforests have a . That's a layer of branches and leaves at the tops of the tallest trees. The can easily be 100 feet or more above the ground.

Most plants and animals live in the rather than on the ground. And what a collection of life it is! Scientists believe that around half of the plants and animals on the Earth live in rainforests. Many of these are endangered and can only live in this habitat.

Unfortunately, our rainforests are shrinking. Every year, we destroy a section the size of the state of New Jersey. This destruction occurs for many reasons. People cut down trees for wood and to make room for farms or roads. Many groups fight this destruction because of the important role they play in our world.

Scientists sometimes call rainforests the "lungs" of Earth. Their millions of trees take in huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere . They make much of the humans and animals depend on. Without them, there would be less air to breathe!

Rainforests also help maintain Earth's . By taking in carbon dioxide , they help to reduce the greenhouse effect. This helps slow worldwide change.

Finally, rainforests help maintain the water cycle. Water produced there makes its way all over the world. As rainforests shrink, it affects Earth's water cycle. This leads to droughts in many areas around the world.

Are you WONDERing what you can do to help? One thing you can do is reuse and recycle wood and paper. You can also call and write your elected politicians, who have more say in how we treat our rainforests. There are also organizations you can join to help them, including the Save the Rainforests Foundation.

Rainforests are an important part of life on our planet. They provide us with many resources, from the we breathe to homes for many animals. Without them, the Earth could run into major problems.

NGSS.LS2.C, NGSS.LS4.C, NGSS.LS4.D, NGSS.ESS3.A, NGSS.ESS3.B, NGSS.ESS3.C, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

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Do you love trees? We do! And you should, too. Trees do all sorts of great things for humans. They take in carbon dioxide and release . They provide shade. They also give us places to build fabulous tree houses. What would we ever do without trees?

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The Rainforest Alliance certification seal means that the product (or a specified ingredient) was produced by farmers, foresters, and/or companies working together to create a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. Learn More

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A rainforest is a forest that gets lots and lots of rain-over 200 inches a year! Some rainforests get as much as 400 inches of rain a year! It is always warm in the rainforest, too.

Most of the time the temperature in the rainforest is about 90 o F.

Some people think that jungles and rainforests are the same, but they aren't. A rainforest is covered by tall trees. The tall trees let the sun in, but at the same time, keep the ground and smaller trees and bushes underneath moist and warm.

The tall trees which cover the top of the rainforest are called the canopy. This warm moisture is called humidity. A jungle does not have a cover of trees on top. It is open to the sunshine and is not as humid as a rainforest.

There are actually two different types of rainforests; tropical and temperate. Because a tropical rainforest needs a lot of rain and warm weather, most can be found near the equator. The equator is the imaginary line in the middle of the earth that separates the northern hemisphere from the southern hemisphere. Countries near the equator do not have cold winters like most of us do. Tropical rainforests are located all over the world in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and South America.

The process of germination

If you have ever planted a seed, you know how exciting it is to see the plant that comes from that seed break through the soil. Have you ever thought about how it happens? Let's find out!

When you plant seeds in some soil, it is important to keep the soil watered (not too much). The reason this is so important is because the seeds you plant need to be able to take in oxygen and minerals from the soil and water through the seed coat's tiny pores (holes) to give the inside of the seed the food it needs to break open and make its way through the soil so it can grow into a plant.

Temperate rainforests need lots and lots of rain, but can stand colder temperatures. This means they do not have to be near the equator. Temperate rainforests are found in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Chile and even in western North America.

Temperate rainforests are not always as warm as tropical rainforests, but they are still very humid.

The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon Rainforest.

Fun Facts About the Amazon Rainforest

There are over 40,000 different types of plants in the Amazon Rainforest

Almost half of the earth's rainfall happens and is stored in the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest covers over 1 BILLION acres. Most of it is in the country of Brazil, but it also takes in part of the countries of Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Bolivia, Suriname and French Guiana.

Many dangerous animals live in the Amazon Rainforest-including anacondas!

There are over 2,000 different kinds of butterflies living in the Amazon Rainforest

If the Amazon Rainforest were a country, it would be the 9th largest country in the world.

The Amazon Rainforest sounds pretty amazing, doesn't it!

Other Fun Facts About Rainforests Around the World

While each rainforest is special in its own way, there are many things all rainforests have in common (besides rain). Every rainforest:

Is home to millions of bugs, animals and plants that have not been discovered by people yet.

Depends upon the weather and the atmosphere for survival

Has been invaded by people. People have destroyed parts of the rainforest to build factories, communities and to capture the animals and take the plants that live there.

Is in danger of being ruined if people are not careful to treat them right.

Makes it possible for us to breathe. That is because of all the plants in a rainforest, 28% of the earth's oxygen is respired (breathed out) by the plants in world's rainforests.

Helps to keep us well. Over 25% of all the medicines we use come from plants that were discovered in the rainforest.

The periwinkle plant found in a rainforest has been used to make the best medicines we have to help people with cancer.

Bamboo plants grow about 9 inches every single day in the rainforest.

The plants and trees in the rainforests take in extra carbon dioxide and store it for making food. This also makes the air we breathe healthier and cleaner for us.

Some of the unique things about other rainforests make them very special places.

Nearly all the flowers in Australia's rainforest are so rare that they cannot be found anywhere else in the entire world.

There are over 8,000 different plants in the South African Rainforest that do not grow anywhere else.

Temperate rainforests found in North America

A Whole Other World

The very top layer of trees in the rainforest are called the emigrant. These are the trees that tower above the more even layer of the canopy. Many birds and insects call the emigrant home.

The next layer is the canopy. The canopy of a rainforest can be up to 130 feet tall. This means there is 130 feet from the tops of the trees under the canopy to the top of the canopy. A rainforest canopy is home to thousands of different kinds of birds, spiders, bugs, snakes and mammals-including the howler monkey. Everything they need to exist is right there. They never touch the ground. The canopy is also made up of moss and thick, leafy vines that twist and twirl among the trees.

Below the Canopy

Once you get through the canopy of the rainforest, the next layer is called the understory. The understory is made of smaller trees, bushes, shrubs, vines, thousands of different plants. The understory is home to millions of bugs, spiders, snakes, and other animals like leopards and jaguars.

The bottom of the rainforest is called the forest floor. The floor of a rainforest is dark and wet. Only 2% of the sunshine a rainforest gets makes its way through the other layers to reach the floor. This means very little grows on the floor of the rainforest. It is most covered in with dead plant matter. This plant matter rots into the soil to make it full of vitamins and minerals that can be used by the roots of the trees and plants reaching up from the floor of the rainforest to keep them strong, healthy and beautiful.

The rainforest...it's a pretty amazing place, wouldn't you say?

Read more about Plant Facts for Kids

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A rainforest is a forest that gets lots and lots of rain-over 200 inches a year! Some rainforests get as much as 400 inches of rain a year! It is always warm in the rainforest, too. Most of the time the temperature in the rainforest is about 90 o F.

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Wow in the World podcast- episode "What's slower than slow"

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Click for a printable "Wowsheet" to help turn this episode of Wow in the World into a scientific learning adventure!

Sloths, snails and salamanders, when it comes to slow animals there's a bunch of different animals to choose from. But there's one animal that stands out above all the rest when it comes to being very ... very ... slow. But what animal is it? Mindy and Guy make their way down to the Snoozefest Arena for the annual 100m Not-A-Dash to find out! It's the Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and Wow in the World of epic slow pokes!

Want to learn more about the science behind the olm salamander? Click to see some of the resources we used to help write this episode!

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Sloths, snails and salamanders, when it comes to slow animals there's a bunch of different animals to choose from. But there's one animal that stands out above all the rest when it comes to being very ... very ... slow. But what animal is it?

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Home to an estimated 40,000 plant species, including 16,000 native tree types, with new ones still being discovered on a regular basis, the Amazon Rainforest is one gigantic expanse of greenery and accounts for some 20% of the world's entire allocation of natural forest. Studies have shown that a single square kilometre of Amazon Rainforest can contain upwards of 90,000 tonnes of living plants. That being said, some of the most interesting and unique species of plants can be found in the Amazon jungle. Rainforest Cruises has put together a list of 10 very cool plants found in the Amazon Rainforest.

The Coolest Plants Found in the Amazon Rainforest

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The Coolest Plants in the Amazon Rainforest | Rainforest Cruises

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Home to an estimated 40,000 plant species, including 16,000 native tree types, with new ones still being discovered on a regular basis, the Amazon Rainforest is one gigantic expanse of greenery and accounts for some 20% of the world's entire allocation of natural forest.

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This article contains facts about the Amazon Rainforest and is part of Active Wild's Rainforest Series.

The Amazon Rainforest is the world's biggest rainforest (you can find out just how big further down the page). It is home to a vast number of animals and plants. Many native tribes also live in the forest, far away from modern life.

The Amazon Rainforest is located in South America, in the region around the Amazon River. Over half of the forest is in Brazil.

In this tropical region, it is hot and humid all year round. In many parts of the Amazon Rainforest it rains nearly every day.

The climate creates ideal conditions for trees and plants to grow. These provide food and shelter for the region's animals.

Life thrives in the rainforest. One tenth of all of the Earth's species are found in the Amazon Rainforest. Colourful toucans hop from branch to branch, howler monkeys call from the treetops, and tapirs rummage through the leaves on the forest floor searching for food.

However, the rainforest can also be a dangerous place. Carnivorous plants trap unwary insects, jaguars prowl through the trees, and anacondas glide through the rivers and streams.

Let's learn more about the Amazon Rainforest...

Facts About The Amazon Rainforest: Introduction

This article starts with some amazing quick facts about the Amazon Rainforest.

We'll then find out where the rainforest is located, and learn about its climate and history.

After that, we'll take a look at the forest's animals and plants. We'll be discovering amazing rainforest animals such as the jaguar and the harpy eagle.

We'll also look at man's relationship with the Amazon Rainforest. We'll find out about rainforest tribes and why the rainforest is important to man.

Finally we'll deal with threats to the rainforest, including deforestation.

10 Particularly Amazing Amazon Rainforest Facts

It seems that everything about the Amazon Rainforest is amazing, so be prepared for some big numbers as you read about the forest and its wildlife. Here is a list of some particularly amazing facts about the Amazon Rainforest to start with...

1. The Amazon Rainforest is the biggest rainforest in the world. It covers around 1.4 billion hectares.

2. It is bigger than all of the other rainforests combined

3. The Amazon Rainforest is twice the size of India (and India is the 7th largest country in the world!)

4. It is estimated that over one fifth of the world's bird species live here (other estimates say an even larger proportion). Over 300 species of hummingbirds live here.

5. Around 1/3 of the world's flowering plants grow here (around 80,000 species)

6. An estimated 16,000 different tree species grow in the Amazon Rainforest.

7. An estimated 390 billion trees grow in the Amazon Rainforest.

8. 1 in 10 of all the world's plant and animal species are found in the Amazon Rainforest.

9. 2.5 million insect species are found in the Amazon Rainforest

10. 1 in 5 of the world's fish species live in the area's rivers and streams.

Where Is The Amazon Rainforest?

The Amazon Rainforest is located in South America. It covers most of the area known as the Amazon Basin.

You can see the Amazon Rainforest In the NASA satellite image of South America below. It is the dark green area at the top of the continent.

The Amazon Basin is the huge area of land that drains into the Amazon River and its tributaries (tributaries are smaller rivers and streams that flow into a larger river).

The Amazon Rainforest is actually spread over 9 countries: Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana (although, strictly speaking, French Guiana is a part of France rather than an actual country).

Around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is in Brazil, and 13% is in Peru.

How Big Is The Amazon Rainforest?

Very big! The Amazon Rainforest covers 2,100,000 square miles (5,500,000 square kilometres), making it the biggest rainforest in the world. It is twice the size of India, and over half the size of America.

The Amazon River

The Amazon is the world's second longest river. It holds around 1/5 of all of the planet's fresh water. Around 2,000 species of freshwater fish live in the Amazon River system (compare this with the 300 species found in Europe).

What Type Of forest Is The Amazon Rainforest?

The Amazon Rainforest is a tropical rainforest. Tropical rainforests are found in a region known as the tropics, which are located near the equator.

The two main characteristics of tropical rainforests is that they are hot and wet.

Most of the Amazon Rainforest is what is known as a tropical lowland rainforest. You can read more about the different types of rainforest here.

Amazon Rainforest Weather

Although there is very little seasonal variation near the equator, the Amazon does have rainy seasons, during which it rains even more than usual. This is known as a tropical monsoon climate.

Amazon Rainforest Rainfall

A lot of rain falls here.

During the rainy season, rainfall is between 60 and 180 inches.

During the 'dry' season, rainfall is between 30 to 100 inches.

However, because the Amazon Rainforest is so big, different parts of the forest have different climates. Some parts of the Amazon Rainforest experience dry seasons during which there is no rainfall.

Amazon Rainforest Temperature

Due to its location near the equator, there is no variation in seasonal temperatures in the rainforest. It is hot all year round. The average temperature in the Amazon Rainforest is 27°C (80.7°F).

There is more variation between day and night temperatures (a difference of between 2 to 5°C) than seasonal variations.

Animals In The Amazon Rainforest

With one in ten of the world's species making their home in the Amazon Rainforest, you'd be right in thinking that among them are some pretty amazing animals!

Birds that live in the Amazon Rainforest include brightly-coloured macaws and toucans, hummingbirds (over 300 species of them), and the harpy eagle, the heaviest and most powerful bird of prey in the Americas, and one which happily feeds on monkeys and sloths.

Amazonian reptiles include: caimans; turtles, including the South American river turtle, the biggest freshwater turtle in South America; and snakes, including fearsome green anacondas and boa constrictors.

Amphibians include the famous - and cute - red eyed tree frog, and the famous - but not so cute - poison dart frogs (there are more than one species of these deadly creatures).

There are more insects than any other type of animal in the Amazon Rainforest. Famous examples are the leafcutter ants, who can harvest huge amounts of vegetation, but who also help it to grow, and blue morpho butterflies, whose colours are so bright they can be seen by pilots flying over the forest.

Mammals include primates such as howler monkeys and spider monkeys. Anteaters hoover up large numbers of ants and termites, but not so many that the insects can't rebuild their nests (allowing the anteater to come back again!). One of the rainforest's most famous inhabitants is the jaguar. The largest cat species in the Americas (and the third biggest species of cat in the world), this stealthy animal is a master at ambush hunting.

Plants Of The Amazon Rainforest

An incredible number of plants grow in the Amazon Rainforest. These range from carnivorous pitcher plants that trap and eat their insect prey; towering kapok trees that grow up to 70 m (230 ft.) high; and Amazonian water lilies whose leaves can be over 2 metres in diameter.

The most common tree in the Amazon Rainforest is the Euterpe precatoria, a pine tree which grows up to 20 metres tall. Its fruit are edible, and are eaten by native people.

Other common trees include the rubber tree, which produces latex used to make rubber, and walking palms, which have unusual, stilt-like roots.

Plants in the Amazon rainforest don't always grow on the ground! Many species actually grow on other plants. Epiphytes, which include orchids and bromeliads, grow on trees, usually in the canopy layer. The epiphytes growing in a single tree can weigh several tonnes.

Tribes In The Amazon Rainforest

Humans have inhabited the Amazon Rainforest for around 10,000 years. Today it is home to around one million native people, grouped in several hundred tribes. Most of these tribes are in contact with the modern world, but there are some who choose to retain a traditional way of life deep in the forest. These are known as 'uncontacted' tribes.

Why The Amazon Rainforest Is Important?

The Amazon Rainforest is important in many ways.

It is home to a vast number of species, many of which are not found anywhere else. It's also home to native tribes and many other people, many of whom live sustainably within or around the forest.

Many medicines are produced using ingredients found in the rainforest.

The forest helps to regulate weather patterns. Studies have shown that less rain falls on deforested areas.

The plants of the Amazon Rainforest hold vast stores of carbon which, if released due to areas of the forest being cleared, is harmful to the atmosphere.

If harvested responsibly, the Amazon Rainforest can produce timber, food and many other products beneficial to man.

Threats To The Amazon Rainforest

Deforestation is the primary threat to the Amazon Rainforest. Most forest clearance is carried out to make way for agricultural land. Crops such as soya beans are grown, and cattle are allowed to graze.

Trees are cut down to make roads that allow loggers to reach deep into the forest. Valuable timbers are taken out of the forest. The roads to the previously unreachable parts of the forest are then used by farmers who clear more land for their cattle.

Each year more and more of the Amazon Rainforest is lost due to deforestation. The land cleared of trees is visible with the naked eye from space.

Facts About The Amazon Rainforest Conclusion

We hope you'll agree that the Amazon Rainforest is an amazing place. Teeming with life, it is a place of incredible beauty that needs to be protected.

What was the most amazing thing that you learned about the rainforest? Was it its size? The number of different species that live there? The animals and tribes that call it home?

So many facts about the Amazon Rainforest are amazing that it's hard to know where to start!

Perhaps one day you'd like to visit the Amazon Rainforest yourself!

If you want to learn more about rainforests you can start at our ultimate guide to rainforests.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to link to it, and share it on social media using the share buttons provided.

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Facts About The Amazon Rainforest - The Ultimate Guide

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This article contains facts about the Amazon Rainforest and is part of Active Wild's Rainforest Series. The Amazon Rainforest is the world's biggest rainforest (you can find out just how big further down the page). It is home to a vast number of animals and plants.

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Layers of the rainforest: Among all biomes, tropical rainforests are considered to have the highest biodiversity. In a hectare plot of tropical rainforest land, about 40 to 100 tree species can already be found. Aside from this, the tropical rainforest biome is home to the most common species of the rarest organisms on our planet.

The world's tropical rainforests are located in the warmest yet wettest places in the world (i.e., place close to the equator). Such conditions make these places ideal environments for life. The tropical rainforest is a complete environment from top to bottom.

In general, it is divided into four layers: emergent layer, canopy layer, understory, and the forest floor. These layers host several species of tropical animals and tropical plants. Learn more about these layers below.

Layers of the Rainforest

1. Emergent Layer

The first layer of a tropical rainforest from the top is called the emergent layer. The emergent layer consists of towering trees (basically taller than most trees in the forest) that protrude out of the rest of the plants in the area. The average height is about 70-100m from the ground level.

It can be inferred that trees found in the emergent layer tend to experience the extremes of environmental conditions. Being at the top means they receive direct heat from the sun, causing them to dry out constantly. Rains and winds also tend to strain them out. Fluctuations in temperature, from high temperatures during the day to extremely cold ones at night, also torn them down.

To adapt to these said conditions, trees develop small yet very tough leaves coated with thick wax that can help withstand them. Meanwhile, to grow in the emergent layer, plants and animals should adapt to the bright sun rays and yet strong winds.

Another adaptation exhibited by animals living in the emergent layer is their small sizes. Many branches in the tree canopy are thin and cannot support heavy weights; therefore, animals that live there are usually the flying and the gliding ones.

Animals in Emergent Layer

Common animals in emergent layer are birds (such as Harpy Eagles, Scarlet Macaw, etc.) bats, some insects, pygmy gliders, rainforest monkeys (such as capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, etc.) and morpho butterflies (blue colored ones).

The trees found in this layer take huge advantages of the heights they are in. Because they are in the most openly spaced area in the forests, these trees tend to spread their leaves out to get sunlight as much as possible.

2. Canopy Layer

The next layer is the canopy layer, which is known to contain the majority (about 60 to 90%) of living species in the whole rainforest. The canopy layer, which is about 100 feet above the ground, contains overlapping tall trees that act as a roof over the rest of the organisms below them.

The conditions of this layer are somewhat different from the rest of the other layers. During the daytime, the canopy layer becomes the hottest part. Another thing is that due to the overlapping trees and leaves, even organisms of the same species find it hard to see each other. Hence, they developed adaptations like loud calls and sounds to communicate.

And just like in the emergent layers, animals capable of flying and gliding are also present here.

Animals in Canopy Layer

As Canopy layer is rich with fruits and nuts, organisms such as insects, various species of birds, lizards, monkeys (such as Bornean Orangutan), rodents, and tree frogs thrive in here. It is believed that almost 90% of rainforest animal species reside in this layer of the rainforest.

The leaves of the canopy layer can be likened to mini-solar panels that act as a source of power for the whole rainforest. These leaves do this by converting sunlight into useful energy form through the process of photosynthesis. Because of this, the rate of photosynthesis is very high that these plants get higher yields too.

3. Understory

As compared to the first two layers, the understory is rather more humid and damp. Such humidity level is what keeps the animals in this layer alive.

The understory also called the strata, is composed of shrubs, herbaceous plants, ferns, climbing plants, and young trees that are well adapted to areas receiving low sunlight.

The tree trunks found in this layer come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, thickness, and textures. Also, these trunks come in many colors because of the presence of lower plants like mosses, lichens, and fungi that are attached to the trunks and branches of trees.

Climbing plants and vines are also concentrated in this layer. These plants first germinated on the Forest floor and begin to "climb" up by using a host plant until they reach the point where enough sunlight is present.

In this layer of the rainforests, insects are most likely to be found. And because little to no seasonal changes occur in this layer, insects like mosquitoes can successfully breed all year long.

Animals in Understory Layer

Organims in understory layer include insects, bees, beetles, butterflies, birds, geckos, bats, monkeys, snakes, lizards, jaguars and tree frogs. Birds and geckos prey on insects and snakes prey on small mammals.

The understory is basically a dark environment where sunlight is only about 2 to 15%. Hence, organisms living in this layer have become adapted to tolerate the low amount of sunlight.

4. Forest Floor

Last but not the least is the Forest floor layer. This layer is often described as the darkest and most humid layer of a tropical rainforest as it receives less than 2% of the total sunlight.

The Forest floor receives all fallen leaves, twigs, branches, fruits, and seeds from the three layers above it. All these materials, coupled with the hot and humid weather, allow quick decomposition, making the forest floor the most nutrient-rich layer of all.

The process of decomposition is facilitated by different bacteria and fungi that break down materials and recycle the nutrients.

Because of its location, the forest floor is where large terrestrial animals can be found.

Animals in Forest Floor

Animals in the forest floor are the tigers, Jaguars, elephants, and tapirs. Another example is the bearded pigs. They scour the ground for everything fallen on the forest floor that includes fallen fruits, fungi, and carrion. In a way, they help to spread the tree density in the rainforest by dropping the seeds via their feces/dung.

And because of its low location at the ground level, this layer of the forest was the first to be explored and probably the most intensively well-documented.

Because of the constant rains that wash down rainforests, the soils are lacking in with essential nutrients. Because of this harsh environment, plants and animals cannot afford the added disadvantage of being eaten by their larger predators.

Hence, they have developed various adaptations and strategies to survive. And despite being mega-diverse, the tropical rainforest is considered as one of the most threatened and most vulnerable biomes on Earth.

For a long time, tropical rainforests were unharmed from man's exploitation and anthropogenic activities. But because of man's constant search for the source of lumber and space for industrial development, our tropical rainforests are already at risk for destruction.

References

"Rainforests". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"Layers of the Rainforest". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"The Rainforest Canopy". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"The Understory Layer". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"TROPICAL RAINFOREST UNDERSTORY LAYER FACTS". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"The Rainforest Floor". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

"Tropical Rainforest Layers". Accessed November 14, 2017. Link.

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Layers of the Rainforest | Rainforest Animals | Biology Explorer

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Among all biomes, tropical rainforests are considered to have the highest biodiversity. The rainforest is divided into 4 layers namely emergent layer, canopy layer, understory, and the forest floor. These layers host several species of tropical animals and tropical plants. Explore the layers of the rainforest here.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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interactive diagram

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Learn where sloths live and other fun facts for kids. Find out more about sloths and improve your knowledge on animals and nature with DK Find Out.

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Temperate and tropical rainforests are the oldest living ecosystems on the planet, some with origins dating back to over 70 million years ago. The

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A World of Wonders: The Amazon Rain Forest

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Follows intern Cari as she travels to the Amazon to learn about the rain forest ecosystem and encounter native Amazonian wildlife. The program depicts Cari's journey on the floor of the rain forest, as well as her walk atop the canopy.

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Watch the Jeff Corwin episode to learn about different amphibians- listen closely to which ones live in the Amazon

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What allows these cold-blooded vertebrates to live at least part of their lives on water and on land? Examine many different species of amphibians, including salamanders in Florida, the bufo marinus toad in California, the monkey frog in the Amazon, and the red-eyed tree frog and the blue jean frog in Costa Rica.

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As you walk through the Amazon Rainforest, amidst the cacophony of noises and endless shades of green, there are few things more exciting than the thought that you might spot one of the jungle's feline inhabitants. And while it's rare indeed to see one of these stealthy cats in the wild, just knowing that they're out there is one of the greatest thrills during a trip to the Amazon.

Jaguar

Puma

Jaguarundi

Ocelot

Margay

The margay ( Leopardus wiedii) looks very similar to the larger ocelot, but with a slightly shorter head, larger eyes and longer legs and tail. One particularly notable difference between the two species is the margay's superior climbing ability. It's an incredibly agile cat and one well suited to a life in the trees, chasing after birds and monkeys (unlike the ocelot, which mostly hunts its prey on the ground). Many margays will spend most of their lives off the ground, and have adapted to life in the treetops. They are one of only two cat species in the world that have ankles flexible enough to allow them to climb down trees head-first. They are also capable of jumping almost 4 meters horizontally.

Oncilla

The oncilla ( Leopardus tigrinus), also known as the tigrillo in South America, is again similar in appearance to the ocelot and margay but is the smallest of the three species. It's slightly longer than an average domesticated cat, but weighs less at just 1.5 to 3 kg. Like a typical house cat, it stalks from range and then pounces to catch and kill its prey, which may include small mammals, small birds, lizards, tree frogs and eggs. Oncillas are the most threatened of all the cats in the Amazon Rainforest and are currently listed as vulnerable. Oncilla pelts are highly prized making them a target for poachers. Deforestation and habitat loss only serve to exacerbate the delicate situation of this small but beautiful wild cat.

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As you walk through the Amazon Rainforest, amidst the cacophony of noises and endless shades of green, there are few things more exciting than the thought that you might spot one of the jungle's feline inhabitants.

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Getting to know...

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Getting to Know the Animals of the Amazon

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This video takes to the Amazon Basin to find a very large fresh water fish, the pirarucu. We also look at a Bothrops atrox viper who has recently consumed a meal a monkey frog which is not just a frog that hops, it also walks and the red-faced uakari monkey who has had its habitat reduced and has been hunted to near extinction.

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The Amazon habitat is home to many unique creatures. The matamata turtle is well camouflaged and well suited to the Amazon habitat. The three-toed sloth moves very slowly, but has a very strong grasp on the trees it holds on to. The electric fish lives in the waters of the Amazon.

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last video in series...

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Attempts to replace the trail camera in the jaguar territory, and follows Coyote Peterson and his crew as they are chased back to their boat. The segment observes a mother jaguar and her cub swimming across Silence River.

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Reading Rainbow: The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

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Discover the places and faces waiting inside books. Host LeVar Burton shares stories of the rain forest, including The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry and Mark J. Plotkin. The program follows LeVar as he meets the Tirio tribe in the Amazon and goes on an expedition with Kamanya, the shaman's apprentice from the story.

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Concludes the program by discussing the rain forest biome and some examples of the interactions people have with their ecosystems. The rain forest is home to almost half of the world's species and can be either tropical or temperate.

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Published on

A self-directed interactive with an audio glossary.

1. 1. Amazon Rain Forest biodiversity in the Dana Quante enter

2. 2. biodiversity title warm and humid there. Plants can grow and produce fruit all year long. Animals and insects can eat these plants and reproduce all year long. The Amazon Rainforest is home to half of the world's living species , and many more are yet to be discovered. Biodiversity means "many forms of life." The Amazon Rainforest is located in the tropical zone near the equator . It is always animals insects plants people layers glossary

3. 3. animals insects people plants layers The trees of the rainforest create 4 layers that give plants and animals different places to live and find food. The Canopy are the tops of trees that form an "umbrella." Most of the animals and birds live here and it gets very noisy. Emergent trees grow above the Canopy to reach for the sunlight. The Understory is dark and shadowy because it is beneath the canopy which blocks most of the sunlight. The Forest Floor is very dark and quiet. It is covered with rotting leaves. hear the noisy canopy! glossary home Emergent Trees Canopy Understory Forest Floor 80 m 40 m 20 m 1 m

4. 4. people plants insects layers animals home The Amazon Rainforest supports many creatures that have adapted to their tropical habitat . Birds and butterflies inhabit emergent trees. Monkeys, birds, snakes, sloths and tree frogs live in the canopy. Jaguars and bats live in the understory. Large mammals, humans, and trillions of insects live on the forest floor. mammals  birds  reptiles  amphibians  canopy may contain ½ of the world's species home glossary wow

5. 5. animals mammals Howler Monkeys are the loudest land animals in the world. They live in groups of 20 in the canopy. The males "howl" to defend their territory . Sloths have long curved claws that they use as hooks to hang from trees. They move very slowly. They eat leaves, sleep, and give birth upside-down. Jaguars are solitary , nocturnal wildcats. They are good swimmers. They bury their prey after they kill it, and then eat it later. home Vampire Bats are nocturnal . They come out at night to eat the blood of large mammals such as cattle, large birds, and pigs. glossary

6. 6. animals birds Toucans have large, colorful beaks that are very light weight. Because their long beaks makes it difficult to fly, they hop from branch to branch. They eat fruit, berries, small animals, and eggs by gripping the food with the tip of the beak, tilting the head up, and then swallowing it whole. Toucans live in flocks of 6 and have a life span of 20 years which is long for a bird. Harpy Eagles are large and powerful birds of prey. They hunt and scavenge during the day and eat sloths, monkeys, large reptiles and birds. They mate for life. Scarlet Macaws are large parrots that fly in small flocks. They eat fruit, seeds, and nuts. After hatching, the young parrots stay with their parents for 2 years. home glossary

7. 7. animals reptiles Emerald Tree Boas lives in trees and shrubs in the marshy areas of the rainforest. Nocturnal carnivores , they eat birds and rodents. A boa wraps its body around its prey to kill it. After eating, it does not need food for a long time. Emerald Tree Boas do not lay eggs like most snakes, but give birth to live babies. The young are born dark orange-brown with white stripes. Green Iguanas are 1-2 meters long. They spend most of their time in the canopy, and use their long fingers and claws to climb and grasp. Their green camouflage protects them from predators like the Harpy Eagle, but if they need a quick getaway, they can drop all the way to the forest floor without getting hurt. They eat mostly plants, eggs, insects, and small animals. home glossary

8. 8. animals amphibians Poison Dart Frogs are small (1-4 cm), brightly colored frogs that have extremely poisonous skin. Choco Indians who live in the Amazon Rainforest use this poison on their arrows and blow-gun darts when they hunt for food. Poison Dart Frogs have such brilliant colors to warn predators that they are poisonous. Poison Dart Frog males guard the eggs and keep them moist. When the tadpoles are ready to hatch they wriggle onto their father's back and he carries them to a pool of water. This may be a small pool on the forest floor or in a bromeliad plant in the understory or canopy. Learn more about bromeliads  home glossary

9. 9. layers animals people plants insects home 10 million species of insects in the Amazon! fact ! Army Ants are carnivores that move in swarms of up to one million, raiding the forest floor for insects, spiders, and small animals to eat. Blue Morpho Butterflies have a wingspan of 6 inches. The underside of their wings are brown to camouflage them while drinking juice from rotting fruit. Rhinoceros Beetles are huge, usually 7 inches long. Males have two horns that they use to fight each other. They eat rotting fruit and leaves. Leaf Cutter Ants have strong jaws to cut leaves. They feed these leaves to fungus that lives in their nest, and then eat the fungus. glossary wow

10. 10. layers animals insects people plants home The Amazon Rainforest has millions of trees of many species . Emergent trees can grow to 80 meters high. Tropical hardwood trees, like Mahogany and Teak, have extremely dense wood to keep insects out. One tree alone can give shelter and food to over 50 species of creatures. Plants, like epiphytes and lianas , live off trees, too. As soon as a tree falls, or a creature dies, it immediately starts to decompose to become nutrients . Tree roots stay close to the surface of the forest floor to get these nutrients so that they can grow and produce more leaves and fruit, like the wild bananas shown to the left.  hear the rain falling on trees in the rainforest lianas  glossary epiphytes

11. 11. plants epiphytes Epiphytes are plants that grow on tree branches high up in the canopy. Because they do not grow from soil, they get water and nutrients from rain and moisture in the air. Orchids and bromeliads are the most common types of epiphytes found in the Amazon Rainforest. One tree could have over fifty different kinds of epiphytes! The leaves of epiphytes overlap each other, to create little cup-like areas that collect rain. Poison Dart Frogs and other tree frogs use these little "pools" of rainwater as safe places for their eggs and tadpoles . orchid Learn more about dart frogs  home glossary bromeliad

12. 12. plants lianas Lianas are woody vines that wrap themselves around a trunk of a tree and grow up toward the sunlight to the high canopy. Once they reach the canopy, they loop themselves from tree to tree among the branches. Monkeys and other creatures that live in the canopy use lianas to get from tree to tree. The Strangler Fig is a type of liana that later becomes a tree. Its seed sprouts on a branch in the canopy. When its leaves grow up to the sunlight, it sends roots to the forest floor. The roots become trunks that surround the original tree, which eventually dies. home glossary

13. 13. layers animals plants insects people home People have lived in the Amazon Rainforest for thousands of years. These people have found that the best way to survive in this environment is to live in small groups and to be hunter-gardeners . They hunt small animals and birds, gather fruit, nuts, and honey, and they grow some plants, such as yams and plantains . To farm, they cut down a small area of trees and burn them. The ashes make the soil good for growing plants. learn more about kids living in the rainforest The Kayapo people tame some insects and grow plants that control insect infestation . They work hard to keep miners and loggers out of the rainforest.  The Yanomami people build large huts out of branches and place them in a circle. At night, families gather at the center of the circle to tell stories to each other. glossary

14. 14. people layers animals plants insects glossary home Hear Word Definition adapt change to fit camouflage blend in, disguise carnivore meat eater decompose rot dense tightly packed equator imaginary line around the center of Earth fungus mushrooms, mold habitat environment, home humid muggy, moist air infestation swarm, invade inhabit live in Hear Word Definition nocturnal active at night nutrient part of food that makes growth possible plantain type of banana predator animal that hunts and eats other animals reproduce make offspring scavenge search for dead animals to eat solitary alone species type, breed tadpole young frog with a tail territory area of land yam large sweet potatoes

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Published on A self-directed interactive with an audio glossary. 1. Amazon Rain Forest biodiversity in the Dana Quante enter 2. biodiversity title warm and humid there. Plants can grow and produce fruit all year long. Animals and insects can eat these plants and reproduce all year long.

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Click around the rainforest to learn more-

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Andrew File System (AFS) ended service on January 1, 2021. AFS was a file system and sharing platform that allowed users to access and distribute stored content. AFS was available at afs.msu.edu and netfiles.msu.edu. AFS was launched in the mid-1990s and was eventually superseded by newer platforms. AFS accounts were removed in the service retirement process.

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The Violet-crowned Woodnymph is a species of medium-sized hummingbird found in the lowland rainforets of Central America and Colombia.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers, but also consume quite a few small, flying insects. They are truly amazing little creatures, with hearts that pump 600-1200 times a minute (ours beat about 75 times a minute), and wings that beat up to 90 times a second!

"Medium-sized hummingbird" is not an oxymoron. There are some very, very small hummingbirds (< 3 inches or 7.5 cm) and a few VERY LARGE hummingbirds (up to 8.5 inches or 21.5 cm).

There are several hundred different species of humminbirds, but they are only found in the Americas.

Heliconias are showy flowers of the forest understory.

Violet Saberwing, Central America's largest hummingbird.

The Long-tailed Hermit is a common hummingbird in the lowland rainforest. It's curved beak is especially designed for feeding from Heliconia flowers.

What you might call a flower here is actually a bunch of flowers. Each of the parts with red on it is called a bract, which is a special leaf that covers the flowers. Inside each bract are several small flowers, some of which you can see peeking out from the upper bracts. The whole group of flowers and bracts is called an inflorescence. Heliconias are typically pollinated by hummingbirds. There is a whole group of hummingbirds called "hermits" that have curved beaks, special for inserting into heliconia flowers. The Heliconia are related to bananas and bird-of-paradise flowers. They are all common in the understory of tropical rainforests, with Heliconias in the Neotropics, Bananas and relatives in the Old World Tropics, and bird-of-paradise flowers in the South Pacific.

The bizarre creature at the right looks like a hummingbird when it moves through the forest canopy. However, when you get an up-close look, it is actually a type of moth.

Hummingbird moths belong to a mostly nocturnal family, the Sphynx Moths (Sphingidae). These moths are important flower pollinators and some species have INCREDIBLY long tongues to fit the nectar tubes of long flowers. This allows the flower to save the valuable energy in the nectar for only the type of moth that can reach its tongue all the way down, and then that moth is likely to feed at similar flowers and spread the pollen.

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Crowned Woodnymph Hummingbird - The Virtual Rainforest by Gerald Urquhart

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The Violet-crowned Woodnymph is a species of medium-sized hummingbird found in the lowland rainforets of Central America and Colombia. Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers, but also consume quite a few small, flying insects. They are truly amazing little creatures, with hearts that pump 600-1200 times a minute (ours beat about 75 times a minute), and wings that beat up to 90 times a second!

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giant tree falls, opening up a giant hole in the canopy. This starts a new cycle of life in the rainforest, where seeds become seedlings and struggle to grow into trees.

The process started long before the adult tree died. Hundreds of species of trees have been dispersing their seeds around the forest.

If the seeds are lucky enough to not get eaten by an Agouti or Paca, they germinate (like hatching) and grow into small seedlings. This begins the greatest struggle for survival in the rainforest.

H UNDREDS of THOUSANDS of tiny seedlings try to find patches of light, but often have to survive in the dark understory of the forest. They are six inches tall. Some die from lack of light.

TENS of THOUSANDS grow slowly until they find a tiny patch of light that gives them enough energy to grow a bit faster. They are twelve inches tall.

A White-lipped Peccary comes along and eats half of them. A THOUSAND survivors grow and are two feet tall.

A branch falls and kills some more. The last HUNDRED survivors are three feet tall.

A tapir eats most of the young trees. The only TEN survivors grow to five feet tall. Now we call them "saplings."

The saplings all start to grow rapidly in the sunlight. Some grow VERY fast, but not very strong. Others grow very strong, but not very fast. One or two grow all the way to the canopy and close off the light gap. They have made it. The ones that didn't make it have to wait in the shade again.

The circled part of the picture is where a treefall gap has ocurred. Smaller trees within the gap are growing to take the place in the canopy

Below is a video showing "A Day in the Life of a Seedling."

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Tree Seedlings in the Rainforest - The Virtual Rainforest by Gerald Urquhart

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giant tree falls, opening up a giant hole in the canopy. This starts a new cycle of life in the rainforest, where seeds become seedlings and struggle to grow into trees. The process started long before the adult tree died. Hundreds of species of trees have been dispersing their seeds around the forest.

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Under The Canopy (360 video) | Conservation International (CI)

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A "lid" curves over the cup's rim, which is often grooved or toothed, and extra-slippery. Plop! An unwary insect slides inside and soon finds itself drowning in a slick-walled vat of sticky, acidic liquid. Bacteria in a tropical pitcher plant's cups play a role in digestion, just as the bacteria in our gut help us digest our food.

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In this episode of NOVA's Gross Science, Anna Rothschild introduces us to the carnivorous fanged pitcher plant (Nepenthes Bicalcarata) that preys on unsuspecting insects, but has a special relationship with one particular species of a 'diving' ant that's endemic to Borneo: Camponotus Schmitzi. From Wikipedia:

Nepenthes bicalcarata is a myrmecotroph (ant-fed plant), obtaining nutrients from C. schmitzi in the form of egesta and, occasionally, ant remains. It has been estimated that this input accounts for 42% of the plant's total foliar nitrogen (76% in plants with ant occupancy rates above 75%).

The ants increase nutrient retention in the pitchers by preying on infaunal flies, which would otherwise eventually leave their hosts and thereby act as kleptoparasites. This nutrients later becomes available to the plant through the ants' waste. Camponotus schmitzi has also been observed to attack newly caught insects and therefore prevent prey escape. At other times, the ants are very passive, remaining hidden under the inner peristome fold, presumably so as not to dissuade visitation by potential prey species.

There are a few other video examples of symbiosis in the archives.

Plus, watch more videos about carnivorous plants:
* What's inside the stomach of a carnivorous Pitcher Plant?
* Venus flytraps count to avoid being tricked
* The wild world of carnivorous plants

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Carnivorous Plants and Killer Ants - Gross Science | The Kid Should See This

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In this episode of NOVA's Gross Science, Anna Rothschild introduces us to the carnivorous fanged pitcher plant (Nepenthes Bicalcarata) that preys on unsuspecting insects, but has a special relationship with one particular species of a 'diving' ant that's endemic to Borneo: Camponotus Schmitzi .

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There are a few kinds of anacondas, but the green anaconda is the big one. Weighing up to 550 pounds, it holds the record for heaviest snake in the world. If you measured around the middle of an anaconda's body, it could be up to 12 inches around-measure your thigh to compare.

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Search for an animal and learn how to draw it.

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Art For Kids Hub - Art Lessons - How To Draw For Kids

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Welcome to Art For Kids Hub! Here you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids.

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Animals and Habitat

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Wild Kratts: Amazin' Amazon Adventure | Wild Kratts Videos | PBS KIDS

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When Aviva experiences an invention slump, the Wild Kratts team is determined to help. They take her down the mysterious Amazon River in search of inspiration from the amazing creatures that live there. But Aviva must reclaim her invention prowess fast, because Zach, Donita, Gourmand, and Paisley seek to mine the area's biodiversity for their own nefarious schemes.

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Poppy Parrot | Draw & Paint Along with Patty

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On this page we'll be looking at rainforest layers. You'll find out what the different layers of the rainforest are, and meet the animals and plants found in each of them.
Rainforest Layers:

The layers of a rainforest, from the highest to the lowest, are:

Emergent layer (the tops of the highest trees)

Canopy layer (the branches and leaves of most of the rainforest's trees. This is the layer in which the largest number of rainforest species are found)

Understory layer (small trees and shrubs that are able to live in low-light conditions)

Forest Floor layer (the dark, damp ground layer, where the rainforest's largest animals are found)

What Are The Layers Of A Rainforest?

One characteristic of rainforests that you'll often hear about is that they have layers.

As we saw above, a rainforest has four main layers. They are (from highest to lowest) the emergent, canopy, understory and forest floor.

Rainforest layers are natural divisions that occur at different heights above the forest floor. Each layer of the rainforest forms a habitat for a different group of plants and animals.

Rainforest layers provide a useful way for scientists to talk about a rainforest, and to study (and explain) how it works.

The different layers aren't completely separate from each other. They sometimes merge into each other, animals can move between them, and their boundaries aren't always clearly defined.

We're now going to take an in-depth look at the layers of a rainforest, and find out what animals and plants live in each one.

We'll start at the lowest layer (the forest floor), and make our way up to the emergent layer at the very top!

Forest Floor

The forest floor is a dark, damp and hot place. Only 2% of the sunlight that falls on a rainforest reaches the forest floor.

You may be surprised to learn that rainforest soil isn't very rich in nutrients. This is why many rainforest trees have roots that spread out over a wide area instead of growing deep into the soil. (See the picture above for an example.)

Wide roots provide stability in the thin rainforest soil, and also help the trees find the nutrients they need.

Living among the soil and leaf litter (dead leaves) are some of the rainforest's most industrious animals: leafcutter ants. These incredible insects are found in the rainforests of Central and South America. They live in colonies of over a million insects, and - amazingly - grow their own food.

Poison dart frogs also live on the forest floor. There are over 170 species of poison dart frog. Although many of these small, brightly-colored amphibians are harmless, some, such as the golden poison frog, are among the world's most poisonous animals!

The forest floor is home to the rainforest's biggest animals.

Large species such as tapirs, jaguars and anteaters may all be found wandering through the trees of South American rainforests. In the lakes and rivers of this region are found large reptiles such as green anacondas and caimans.

In Asian rainforests, tigers take the place of jaguars, and you might even see an Asian elephant.

Leopards, gorillas and pygmy hippos are among the large animals found on the forest floor of African rainforests.

Understory Layer

The understory is a 'halfway house' between the forest floor and the canopy layer. The understory consists of leafy bushes, small trees, saplings (young trees) and vines.

The plants that grow here tend to have large leaves . This helps them capture what little light is available in this dark environment; the understory layer only gets 5% of the rainforest's sunlight.

You may see lines of leafcutter ants marching up and down the branches of the understory. It's also here where boa constrictors lie in wait, ready to drop down onto their prey as it passes by beneath them.

Jaguars (or, if in an African rainforest, leopards) may also climb into the understory layer, ready to pounce on their prey.

Butterflies such as the colourful blue morpho fly through the understory, searching for the rotting fruit on which they feed.

Canopy Layer

The canopy layer is made up of the branches and leaves of most of the rainforest's trees. It's between 30 and 45 metres (100 and 150 ft.) from the ground. More plant and animal species live in this layer than anywhere else in the rainforest.

Because up to 99% of the sunlight that falls on a rainforest reaches the canopy layer, many plants are found here.

Epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) grow on the branches of trees. Lianas - rainforest vines - also try to reach the valuable sunlight by wrapping themselves around the trunks and branches of trees. In doing so they create walkways that allow animals such as monkeys to reach the canopy layer.

Animals that live in the canopy layer of South American rainforests include: red-eyed tree frogs, howler monkeys (and many other rainforest monkeys), coatis, sloths, toucans and iguanas.

Animals that live in the rainforest canopy layer in other parts of the world include orangutans, aye-ayes, and sugar gliders.

Emergent Layer

Only the very tallest rainforest trees break through the canopy to form the emergent layer. The emergent layer is over 45 m (150 ft.) from the ground (in some areas, the tallest trees are over 70 m / 230 ft.). It is the highest of the rainforest layers.

The emergent layer is breezy, wet, and lacking in shelter. It can also be extremely hot, and is a rather inhospitable place. It doesn't provide a suitable habitat for many plant or animal species.

Animals that are found in the emergent layer include birds such as harpy eagles (when they're not hunting in the canopy layer) and scarlet macaws. Some monkeys also enter the emergent layer.

The bright blue wings of swarms of blue morpho butterflies in the emergent layer are visible by pilots flying over the rainforest.

Rainforest Layers Conclusion

We hope that you've enjoyed this guided tour of the layers of a rainforest. Take a look at the following pages to discover more about the world's rainforests...

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Rainforest Layers: Discover The Layers Of A Rainforest - Facts & Pictures

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On this page we'll be looking at rainforest layers. You'll find out what the different layers of the rainforest are, and meet the animals and plants found in each of them. The layers of a rainforest, from the highest to the lowest, are: Emergent layer (the tops of the highest trees) Canopy layer (the branches and leaves of most of the rainforest's trees.

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Biomes are communities of plants and animals that live in a particular climate.

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Newsela | Endangered Species: The jaguar

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Jaguars are very rare, prefer to live alone and are good swimmers, runners and tree climbers.

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Newsela | Scientists are using drones to help protect Amazon River dolphins

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Drones can help to keep track of and protect the Amazon River's dolphins.

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Newsela | Animal Atlas: Meet the animals of Central and South America

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video

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Around the world there are more than 600 plant species that supplement a regular diet of sunlight, water and soil with insects, frogs and even rats. Flies, tadpoles and beetles fall prey to the remarkable, predatory antics of carnivorous plants.

Dig down into soil that's low in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to discover incredible flesh-eating plants like the pitcher plant, the sundew, the corkscrew plant, the bladderwort, the famed Venus flytrap, and the butterwort. How do they trap their prey? Kenny Coogan explains in this TED-Ed, with stop-motion animation by Kaho Yoshida.

Watch more amazing carnivorous plant videos, including Carnivorous Plants and Killer Ants, Venus flytraps count to avoid being tricked, and what's inside the stomach of a carnivorous Pitcher Plant?

Bonus: The Water Cycle, a boogie-woogie stop motion clay animation and Missing U: An animation about language and love.

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.

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The wild world of carnivorous plants | The Kid Should See This

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Around the world there are more than 600 plant species that supplement a regular diet of sunlight, water and soil with insects, frogs and even rats. Flies, tadpoles and beetles fall prey to the remarkable, predatory antics of carnivorous plants.

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Read to you available, and can change reading level

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Hanging Tough Life Science Article for Students | Scholastic SuperScience Magazine

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Rescuers use a sloth sporting event to help save one of the world's slowest animals

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Newsela | Soils and nutrient cycling in the rain forest

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Nutrient cycling in the rain forest in unlike any other place on Earth.

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Use multiplication and unit form to discover facts about venomous animals worldwide.

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World's Wildest Plants Life Science Article for Students | Scholastic SuperScience Magazine

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These five plants climb, compete, and deceive to stay alive

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Food from Rain Forest Plants | Kids Discover Online

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Discover Standards Learn About Kids Discover Online

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Every spring when the rains fall in South America, the Amazon River and its tributaries begin to spill their banks. Eventually, thousands of square miles of rainforest are flooded, creating a vast, tree-canopied sea.

Into this seasonal sea, which remains for half the year, swims the Amazon river dolphin, or boto. Botos have the characteristic dolphin smile and, unlike their marine cousins, bulbous foreheads and long, skinny beaks. Most strikingly, males can be pink.

The coloring is believed to be scar tissue from rough games or fighting over conquests. The brighter the pink, the more attractive the males are to females-at least during mating season, which takes place when the water has receded and males and females are confined to the river channel again.

During the wet season, however, females venture far into the flooded forest, likely to escape the aggressive males. A unique adaptation lets botos swim easily between trees and through tangles of branches: unfused neck vertebrae, which allows them to bend at up to a 90-degree angle.

In addition, the boto's long snout comes in handy for rooting through river mud for crustaceans or darting among branches after small fish. Echolocation allows them to navigate and find prey in the dark, muddy water.

Botos are the largest of the four river dolphin species, reaching up to eight feet long and 450 pounds. They have powerful flippers and tail flukes and a modified hump in place of a dorsal fin.

Male botos sometimes beat the water with branches or grasses held in their mouth, or even hold live turtles aloft, in courtship displays aimed at impressing females. Females give birth to one calf after a pregnancy of 11 to 15 months. The young nurse for more than a year, staying close to their mothers.

Humans are the only threat to Amazon river dolphins, hunting them for catfish bait or trapping them accidentally in gill nets. Traditional Amazonian belief holds that the boto is a magical being able to take the form of a human and come ashore-with a hat to hide its telltale blowhole.

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Every spring when the rains fall in South America, the Amazon River and its tributaries begin to spill their banks. Eventually, thousands of square miles of rainforest are flooded, creating a vast, tree-canopied sea. Into this seasonal sea, which remains for half the year, swims the Amazon river dolphin, or boto.

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For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please visit our FAQ page.

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Spectacular, huge, and long-tailed parrot, wiped out from most areas by capture for the pet trade; attempts at reintroduction are taking place in some protected areas. Found very locally in lowland rainforest and adjacent semiopen areas with big trees; usually in pairs. Unmistakable, bright scarlet red overall with big yellow wing patches and mostly blue wings and rump. Calls are deep, throaty roars that carry long distances.

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Spectacular, huge, and long-tailed parrot, wiped out from most areas by capture for the pet trade; attempts at reintroduction are taking place in some protected areas. Found very locally in lowland rainforest and adjacent semiopen areas with big trees; usually in pairs. Unmistakable, bright scarlet red overall with big yellow wing patches and mostly blue wings and rump.

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Search for any species of bird

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Explore species, regions, and everything else eBird has to offer.

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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance manages the Cocha Cashu Biological Station, a remote field station in a pristine rainforest area of Peru's Manu National Park. From here we hope to learn more about macaws and other rainforest bird, among other rainforest wildlife.

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Water is a source of life for the capybara, as they eat water plants and grasses and use the water itself to escape from danger. In fact, a capybara can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time to hide from predators.

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A mother kinkajou takes full responsibility for caring for her young. She gives birth to one baby (two are rare) in the hollow of a tree. This is where she leaves her baby while she looks for food. After one or two weeks, the baby's eyes open.

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But they have differences, too. Pythons have one more bone in their head than boas do and some additional teeth, and pythons are found in the Old World (Africa, Asia, Australia) while boas live in both the Old World and the New World (North, Central, and South America).

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video

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Baby Sloth Eats Apples and Cuddles Keeper

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Capstone is another place for online books.
There are many fiction and non-fiction books. The non-fiction collection seems more interesting and filled with many topics.
You can choose to have books read to you.
This would be a great site for discovery reading or research.
Capstone Interactive eBooks:
Visit www.mycapstonelibrary.com and click "Log In"
Username: continue
Password: reading

It is worth checking out!

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This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems.

These huge members of the weasel family swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies. They also have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water.

Fish make up most of the giant otter's diet. They hunt alone or in groups, sometimes using coordinated efforts, and must be successful often to meet their daily intake quota. Each animal may eat six to nine pounds of food per day. Fish are supplemented by crustaceans, snakes, and other river creatures.

Giant otters live in family groups which include monogamous parents and the offspring from several breeding seasons. They den by burrowing into banks or under fallen logs, and establish a home territory that they will aggressively defend.

Like most other otter species, giant otters come ashore to give birth. Females retreat to their underground dens and deliver litters of one to six young. Young otters remain in the den for a month but grow up quickly. After nine or ten months, it is difficult to tell mother from child.

Giant otters have been hunted extensively and wild populations are at-risk.

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This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. These huge members of the weasel family swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies.

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At more than twice the length of the North American river otter, the giant river otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis) is quite a sight. A skilled hunter and apex predator, the giant river otter is also very much a family-oriented creature, living in large and often noisy groups along the river banks of the Amazon and its tributaries. Sadly, however, the very existence of this marvelous mammal is under threat, and its population continues to dwindle.

How big do giant river otters get?

Giant otters can reach up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long, making them the longest members of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, to which they belong. Early documentation of skins and live animals suggest that they once grew up to 7.9 feet in length (2.4 m), but such large specimens ceased to exist when the giant otter population began to decline. A fully-grown adult male typically weighs between 57 and 71 pounds (26 and 32 kg).

What do they look like?

Most giant river otters have chocolate brown fur, with some having a slightly reddish hue. The velvety fur is short but incredibly dense, preventing much water from reaching the skin. Every otter has a uniquely shaped patch or pattern of white fur along its throat. These markings allow otters to identify one another. When two otters meet, they typically engage in an act known as periscoping, in which each otter raises its throat and chest above the water so that it can be recognized by the other. Like other otters, giant otters have various adaptations suited to their aquatic environment. Their powerful tails, webbed feet and long, flexible bodies help to propel them through the water, and their nostrils and ears close while swimming to keep the water out.

How do they live?

Giant otters are highly sociable but aggressively territorial. They live in extended family groups of up to 20 individuals, which typically include monogamous parents and their offspring from several breeding seasons. They make their dens by burrowing into the riverbank, after which they establish a home territory that they will defend aggressively if need be. And if you're anywhere near a group of giant otters, you'll probably hear them before you see them. They are the noisiest of all otters, with a range of vocalizations that researchers have categorized into as many as 22 distinct sounds. These range from barks to hums to wavering screams, and may be used as warnings, reassurances or simply as a way to gain some attention within the group.

What do they eat?

Giant otters are apex predators, sitting at the top of the food chain. Fish form the bulk of their diet, but they'll supplement this with snakes, crustaceans and other river creatures. Giant otters are excellent hunters. They hunt alone or sometimes in groups, using coordinated efforts to catch enough to keep the group fed. An adult will normally eat six to nine pounds of food per day. Being an apex predator, the giant otter has no known natural predators, at least none that are common. There are accounts of caiman preying on giant river otters in the Amazon and the Brazilian Pantanal (a tropical wetland where giant river otters are also found). Jaguars and anacondas might also prey upon young and vulnerable otters, but such attacks are rare.

Will they survive?

Unfortunately, this has become the most pressing question regarding the giant river otter. The total population of giant river otters in the wild could now be as low as 5,000. The IUCN Red List classifies the giant river otter as endangered, with its population still decreasing. The threats they face are numerous, and include habitat destruction, hunting for pelts, and conflict with fisherman, who often see the otter as a nuisance. Despite conservation efforts in various parts of the Amazon and the Pantanal, the future of the giant river otter remains in the balance.

Where can you see giant river otters in the wild?

Giant river otters live in and along the Amazon River and its tributaries, as well as in the Orinoco River in Venezuela. They're also found in the Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area. Due to their dwindling numbers, it's not always easy to see them, even during a multi-day wildlife-spotting trip in the Amazon or Pantanal. One of the hotspots for seeing these otters in the Amazon is Tambopata National Reserve in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. The rivers and oxbow lakes in the reserve, in particular Lake Sandoval, are famous for their giant river otter communities. A lesser-known location in Peru for seeing giant river otters is the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, located between Tarapoto and Iquitos.

Recommended Tours

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Giant River Otters Of The Amazon Rainforest

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At more than twice the length of the North American river otter, the giant river otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis) is quite a sight. A skilled hunter and apex predator, the giant river otter is also very much a family-oriented creature, living in large and often noisy groups along the river banks of the Amazon and its tributaries.

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Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. They are double the size of world's smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter ( below).

Giant otters Pteronura brasiliensis are the only species is the Pteronura genus. They are part of the otter subfamily Lutrinae, which are part of the Mustelidae family. There are 13 extant species of otter.
Find out more in our guide to the otters of the world.
As well as otters, mustelids include weasels, badgers, martens, and wolverines.

Giant otters live across the Amazon basin in South America.

Giant ottters are very sociable animals and often live in groups of up to 20 individuals.

They have a gestation period of between 9-10 weeks and usually give birth to 1-3 cubs.

Giant otters most common prey is fish but they have been known to take some of the more feared Amazonian animals such as caiman, anacondas and piranhas!

Giant otters are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and were last assessed in June 2014.

In previous assessments, they were listed as Vulnerable (1982-1996) and then Endangered (2000 onwards).

The species is threatened by habitat contamination and degradation, overfishing of their prey and conflicts with fishermen, infrastructure such as roads and hydroelectric dams, and climate change.

Individual subpopulations of giant otters are small and fragmented, and population recovery is limited by late maturity, late breeding age, suspected low transient survival and low cub survival.

The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is one of the world's leading otter charities. IOSF was set up to protect and help the 13 species of otter worldwide through a combination of compassion and science.
Main image: A giant otter in Mato Grosso (Brazil). © Sergio Pitamitz/Getty

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Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. They are double the size of world's smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter ( below). Giant otters Pteronura brasiliensis are the only species is the Pteronura genus. They are part of the otter subfamily Lutrinae, which are part of the Mustelidae family.

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What Is a Rain Forest? | Kids Discover Online

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Discover Standards Learn About Kids Discover Online

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The Layers of a Rainforest | Kids Discover Online

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Plants of the Rain Forest | Kids Discover Online

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rainforest

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rainforest

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rain Forest | Kids Discover Online

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rainforest

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rainforest

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Unusual Plants and Animals of the Rain Forest | Kids Discover Online

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Insects of the Rain Forest | Kids Discover Online