Rainforest and Rainforest Animals: List of 50+ Animals that Live in the Rainforest

What are Rainforests?

Rainforests are a special type of forests found in areas of hot and humid environment and heavy rainfall. They have been around for millions of years and contain over half of all living things in the world. Located near to the equator, these forests are rich in wildlife, plants are broad-leaved and evergreen and grow in three layers: undergrowth, intermediate trees and shrubs, canopy. Rainforests are home to half of the worlds plants and animals. There are two types of rainforests:

• temperate rainforests 
• tropical rainforests

Rainforest Layers

There are five layers of plants in the rainforest. These are:

• The emergent layer
• The canopy
• The understory 
• The undergrowth
• Forest floor

There are animals that only live in the canopy for example and similarly, animals that only live in the undergrowth. 

Similarly, there are plants which don't even have their roots in the soil. Lianas are a vine like plant that get all their water from the rainfall. 

Facts About Rainforests

• Rainforests Are Old: Some rainforests have been around for 70 million years!
• One quarter of our medicines come from rainforest plants and it is thought that there are many more potential medicines that could come from rainforest plants that have yet to be identified.
• Tons of Rain: Rainforests can receive up to 400 inches of rain each year.
• Oxygen Factories: Rainforests produce about 20% of the world’s oxygen.
• Many Layers: Rainforests have different layers like the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor. Each layer has unique animals and plants.
• Home to Many Species: Rainforests are home to over half of the world's plant and animal species.
• They are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• The amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world.
• There are some tribes in the African and Amazon rainforests that have yet to have any contact with the outside world.
• An area of rainforest the size of a football field is destroyed each second.
• Rainforests used to cover 14% of the earth but now only cover 6%.
• The trees are so densely packed that rain can take 10 minutes to reach the ground after hitting the canopy. 
• The soil in rainforests is actually thin and quite poor. The plants have had millions of years to evolve to get used to the poor soil conditions.
• The high rainfall leads to large surface runoff which leads to large rivers. There are many large rivers in rainforest areas.
• Some trees grow so tall that they have special 'buttress roots' to hold them up.

Animals found in Rainforests?

Mammals

Jaguar - This big cat is a powerful hunter and can be seen prowling through the forest.

Sloth - Slow and sleepy, sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down in trees.

Howler Monkey - Known for their loud calls, these monkeys can be heard from miles away.
Capybara - The world's largest rodent, often found near water.
Ocelot - A small, spotted wildcat that prowls the forest floor.
Tapir - With a long nose, tapirs look like a mix between a pig and an elephant.
Anteater - This animal uses its long snout to eat ants and termites.
Pygmy Marmoset - One of the smallest monkeys in the world.
Spectacled Bear - The only bear species in South America.
Agouti - A rodent that resembles a large guinea pig.

Birds

Macaw - Colorful parrots with long tails and loud calls.
Toucan - Known for their large, colorful bills.
Harpy Eagle - One of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world.
Hoatzin - A unique bird that smells like manure due to its diet of leaves.
Scarlet Ibis - Bright red birds often found near water.
Quetzal - A beautiful bird with vibrant green and red feathers.
Crowned Eagle - A powerful hunter with a striking crown of feathers.
Sunbittern - Known for its sunburst-like wing patterns.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock - Males are known for their bright orange plumage and unique head shape.
Great Curassow - Large, turkey-like birds that live in the forest canopy.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Green Anaconda - One of the largest snakes in the world, often found in water.
Poison Dart Frog - Small, brightly colored frogs that are highly toxic.
Boa Constrictor - A large snake that wraps around its prey to suffocate it.
Leaf-Tailed Gecko - A master of camouflage that looks like a leaf.
Caiman - A relative of the alligator, often seen in rivers and swamps.
Jesus Lizard - Named for its ability to run on water.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog - Known for its bright red eyes and vibrant green body.
Glass Frog - Its skin is so transparent you can see its internal organs.
Amazon Tree Boa - A snake that lives high in the rainforest canopy.
Matamata Turtle - An odd-looking turtle with a flattened head and neck that blends in with river debris.
Insects
Blue Morpho Butterfly - Known for its stunning blue wings.
Bullet Ant - Famous for its extremely painful sting.
Leafcutter Ant - These ants cut leaves to cultivate fungus for food.
Hercules Beetle - One of the largest beetles in the world.
Goliath Birdeater - The largest spider in the world, a type of tarantula.
Glasswing Butterfly - Its wings are so transparent they look like glass.

Orchid Mantis - A master of disguise that looks like a flower.
Atlas Moth - One of the largest moths in the world.
Army Ant - Known for their aggressive foraging behavior.
Stick Insect - Masters of disguise that look like sticks or leaves.

Fish and Aquatic Animals

Piranha - Known for their sharp teeth and feeding frenzies.
Electric Eel - Can generate electric shocks to stun prey.
Arapaima - One of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Discus Fish - Brightly colored fish popular in aquariums.
Amazon River Dolphin - A unique pink freshwater dolphin.
Pacu - Known for their human-like teeth.
Corydoras Catfish - Small, armored catfish often found in aquariums.
Tambaqui - A large, vegetarian fish often found near flooded forests.
Freshwater Stingray - Flat, disc-shaped fish often found on river bottoms.
Hatchetfish - Known for their hatchet-shaped bodies and ability to jump out of water.

Unique Rainforest Creatures

Kinkajou - Also known as the "honey bear," this animal loves to eat fruit.
Coatimundi - A relative of the raccoon with a long snout and tail.
Paca - A large rodent with white spots on its brown fur.
Tamandua - A small anteater that lives in trees.
Okapi - A relative of the giraffe with a long neck and zebra-like stripes on its legs.

List of Rainforest Animals and Their Unique Features

Animal	Unique Feature
Jaguar	Has the strongest bite of any big cat, can bite through turtle shells.
Sloth	Moves so slowly that algae can grow on its fur, making it green.
Howler Monkey	Loudest land animal; calls can be heard up to 3 miles away.
Capybara	Excellent swimmer; can hold its breath underwater for up to 5 minutes.
Ocelot	Nocturnal with keen night vision for hunting in the dark.
Tapir	Has a long, flexible nose.
Anteater	Uses a long snout to eat ants and termites.
Pygmy Marmoset	One of the smallest monkeys in the world.
Spectacled Bear	The only bear species in South America.
Agouti	Resembles a large guinea pig.
Macaw	Has a strong beak that can crack open hard nuts and seeds.
Toucan	Large bill helps it reach and eat fruit from weak branches.
Harpy Eagle	Can carry prey that weighs as much as it does.
Hoatzin	Chicks have claws on their wings to help them climb trees.
Scarlet Ibis	Bright red plumage.
Quetzal	Considered sacred by ancient civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.
Crowned Eagle	Known for its striking crown of feathers.
Sunbittern	Known for its sunburst-like wing patterns.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock	Males have bright orange plumage and a unique head shape.
Great Curassow	Large, turkey-like bird that lives in the forest canopy.
Green Anaconda	One of the heaviest snakes in the world.
Poison Dart Frog	Bright colors warn predators of their toxicity.
Boa Constrictor	Wraps around its prey to suffocate it.
Leaf-Tailed Gecko	Master of camouflage, looks like a leaf.
Caiman	Can grow up to 20 feet long, related to alligators and crocodiles.
Jesus Lizard	Can run on water to escape predators.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog	Bright red eyes and vibrant green body.
Glass Frog	Skin is so transparent you can see its internal organs.
Amazon Tree Boa	Lives high in the rainforest canopy.
Matamata Turtle	Flattened head and neck blend in with river debris.
Blue Morpho Butterfly	Stunning blue wings due to microscopic scales that reflect light.
Bullet Ant	Has one of the most painful stings in the insect world.
Leafcutter Ant	Can carry pieces of leaves up to 50 times their body weight.
Hercules Beetle	Can lift objects 850 times its own weight.
Goliath Birdeater	Largest spider in the world, a type of tarantula.
Glasswing Butterfly	Wings are so transparent they look like glass.
Orchid Mantis	Looks like a flower.
Atlas Moth	One of the largest moths in the world.
Army Ant	Known for their aggressive foraging behavior.
Stick Insect	Masters of disguise, look like sticks or leaves.
Piranha	Known for sharp teeth and feeding frenzies, mostly eat plants and small fish.
Electric Eel	Can generate up to 600 volts of electricity to stun prey.
Arapaima	One of the largest freshwater fish, can breathe air.
Discus Fish	Brightly colored, popular in aquariums.
Amazon River Dolphin	Unique pink freshwater dolphin, born grey and turns pink as it ages.
Pacu	Known for human-like teeth.
Corydoras Catfish	Small, armored catfish.
Tambaqui	Large, vegetarian fish often found near flooded forests.
Freshwater Stingray	Flat, disc-shaped fish often found on river bottoms.
Hatchetfish	Known for hatchet-shaped bodies and ability to jump out of water.
Kinkajou	Uses prehensile tail like a fifth hand.
Coatimundi	Uses long snout to sniff out food on the forest floor.
Paca	Has cheek pouches for storing food.
Tamandua	Has a sticky tongue up to 16 inches long to catch ants and termites.
Okapi	Long, blue tongue used to clean eyes and ears.

Conclusion 

Rainforests are home to countless amazing animals and birds. Each one plays an important role in keeping the ecosystem healthy and balanced. By learning about these incredible creatures, we can better understand and protect their habitats. So next time you think about the rainforest, remember the incredible diversity of life that calls it home!