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Adaptations for tropical forests


ADAPTATIONS FOR TROPICAL FORESTS


Animals:

  • There are billions of species (kinds) of mammals, insects, birds and reptiles found in tropical rainforests.
  • Tropical rainforests are almost perfect for survival of animals.
  • It is always warm, and there are no season changes bringing times when there is little food.
  • There is shade from the heat and shelter from the rain.
  • There is ample amount of water.
  • There is a huge variety of animals found in rainforests.
  • Therefore, the competition for food is very high.
  • Many animals have adapted by learning to eat a particular food, which is not eaten by any other animal.
  • The sloth has a type of adaptation called camouflage.

  • Camouflage is an adaptation in which certain animals are shaped or coloured to match their surroundings, which makes them difficult to spot.
  • This adaptation enables them to hide from predators.
  • Leaf insects and stick insects also show camouflage.

 

 

Plants:

  • The tropical rainforests have billions of species (kinds) of plants.
  • Scientists do not yet know all the species that are to be found in a tropical rainforest and new ones are still being discovered.
  • Leaves of tropical rainforest trees have specialized tips, called drip tips.
  • Drip tips enable raindrops to run off quickly, not allowing them to stick to leaves.

Drip tip

  • Due to the dense vegetation of rainforests, very little light is able to reach the forest floor.
  • Thus, very few plants are able to survive on the rainforest floor.

Forest floor

  • Some plants have adapted by creeping up nearby trees to reach the sunlight.
  • Plants growing in lower levels have big leaves to absorb as much sunlight as possible.