Animals of the tropics. Animals of the tropical zone. Life in the water
Toucans can be found in Southern and Central America under the canopy of tropical forests. While sleeping, toucans turn their heads inside out and tuck their beaks under their wings and tail. Toucans are very important to rainforests because they help disperse seeds from the fruits and berries they eat. There are about 40 different species of toucans, but unfortunately, some species are endangered. The two main threats to the existence of toucans are the disappearance of their habitat and increasing demand in the commercial pet market.They vary in size from approximately 15 centimeters to just over two meters. Large, colorful, light beaks - here distinctive features toucans. These are noisy birds with their loud and creaky voices.
Flying dragons
Tree lizards, called flying dragons, actually glide from tree to tree on their flaps of skin that look like wings. On each side of the body, between the fore and hind limbs, there is a large flap of skin supported by expanded movable ribs. Usually these "wings" are folded along the body, but they can open so that the lizard can glide for many meters in an almost horizontal state. The flying dragon feeds on insects, particularly ants. To reproduce, a flying dragon descends to the ground and lays 1 to 4 eggs in the soil.
Bengal tigers
The Bengal tiger lives in the Sundarbans regions of India, Bangladesh, China, Siberia and Indonesia, and is seriously endangered. Today, about 4,000 individuals remain in the wild, down from more than 50,000 at the turn of the century in 1900. Poaching and habitat loss are the two main reasons for the decline bengal tigers. They were never able to adapt to harsh conditions, despite belonging to a dominant species. Tigers, also known as Royal Bengal tiger, which is a subspecies of the tiger, can be found in the Indian subcontinent. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and is considered the second largest tiger in the world.
South American harpies
One of the largest and most powerful of the fifty eagle species in the world, the South American harpy eagle lives in the tropical lowland forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico south to eastern Bolivia, and southern Brazil to northern Argentina. This is an endangered species. The main threat to its existence is the loss of habitat due to constant deforestation, destruction of nesting sites and hunting.
Tree frogs
These are frogs found in the Central and South America. They are known for their bright colors, which warn other animals that they are poisonous. The frogs' venom is one of the most powerful poisons known and can cause paralysis or death. It is so powerful that one millionth of 30 grams of poison can kill a dog, and less than a crystal of salt can kill a person. One frog has a supply of poison sufficient to send up to 100 people to the next world. Local hunters used poison for their arrows, which is where the frog got its name in English language Poison-Arrow Frog (poisoned arrow frog).
Sloths
Sloths are extremely slow-moving mammals that can be found in tropical forests Central and South America. There are two types of sloths: two-toed and three-toed. Most sloths are the size of a small dog. They have short, flat heads. Their fur is grey-brown, but sometimes they appear grey-green because they move so slowly that tiny camouflage plants have time to grow all over their fur. Sloths lead night look life and sleep curled up, placing their heads between their arms and legs, turned close to each other.
Spider monkeys
Spider monkeys have big sizes. An adult monkey can grow almost 60 centimeters tall, not including the tail. The tail is very powerful. Monkeys use it as an extra limb. Spider monkeys like to hang upside down, clinging to branches with their tail and legs, making them look like spiders, which is where they get their name. These monkeys also know how to jump from branch to branch. high speed. Their coat color can be black, brown, gold, red or bronze. Spider monkeys are the object of close attention among hunters, which is why they are on the verge of extinction. This photo is probably your only chance to ever see this monkey. Not to mention our species...
Wine snakes
Just about a centimeter in diameter, vine snakes are a surprisingly “slender”, elongated species. If a snake lies among the branches forest trees, its proportions and green-brown color make it almost indistinguishable from dense vines and vines. The head of a snake is just as thin and oblong. A slow-moving predator, active during the day and at night, the wine snake feeds mainly on young birds, which it steals from nests, and on lizards. If the snake is threatened, it inflates the front of its body, revealing the bright coloring that would normally be hidden, and opens its mouth wide.
Capybaras
The capybara spends a lot of time in the water and is an excellent swimmer and diver. She has webbed toes on her front and back paws. When she swims, only her eyes, ears and nostrils are visible above the water. Capybaras eat plant matter, including aquatic plants, and their molars grow throughout their lives to counteract wear and tear from chewing. Capybaras live in families and are active at dawn and dusk. In areas where they are frequently disturbed, capybaras can be nocturnal. Males and females look the same, but males have a gland on their nose that is larger than females. They mate in the spring, and after 15-18 weeks of pregnancy there may be 2 babies in the litter. Babies are well developed at birth.
Brazilian tapirs
Brazilian tapirs can almost always be found near bodies of water. These animals are good swimmers and divers, but they also move quickly on land, even over rough and mountainous terrain. Tapirs are dark brown in color. Their fur is short, and a mane grows from the back of the neck down. Thanks to its movable snout, the tapir feeds on leaves, buds, shoots and small branches that the tapir plucks from trees, as well as fruits, herbs and aquatic plants. The female gives birth to a single spotted-striped baby after a pregnancy that lasts from 390 to 400 days.
There's nothing sweeter than good old stories about animals. But today I will not talk about pets, but about those that live in tropical forests. The rainforest ecosystem is home to a greater variety of animals than any other ecosystem. One of the reasons for such great diversity is the constantly warm climate. Rainforests also provide an almost constant supply of water and a wide variety of food for animals. So here are 10 amazing rainforest animals and some facts about their lives.
1. Toucans
Toucans can be found in South and Central America under the canopies of tropical forests. While sleeping, toucans turn their heads inside out and tuck their beaks under their wings and tail. Toucans are very important to rainforests because they help disperse seeds from the fruits and berries they eat. There are about 40 different species of toucans, but unfortunately, some species are endangered. The two main threats to the existence of toucans are the disappearance of their habitat and increasing demand in the commercial pet market.
They vary in size from approximately 15 centimeters to just over two meters. Large, colorful, light beaks are the hallmarks of toucans. These are noisy birds with their loud and creaky voices.
2. Flying dragons.
Tree lizards, called flying dragons, actually glide from tree to tree on their flaps of skin that look like wings. On each side of the body, between the fore and hind limbs, there is a large flap of skin supported by expanded movable ribs. Usually these "wings" are folded along the body, but they can open so that the lizard can glide for many meters in an almost horizontal state. The flying dragon feeds on insects, particularly ants. To reproduce, a flying dragon descends to the ground and lays 1 to 4 eggs in the soil.
3. Bengal tigers
The Bengal tiger lives in the Sundarbans regions of India, Bangladesh, China, Siberia and Indonesia, and is seriously endangered. Today, about 4,000 individuals remain in the wild, down from more than 50,000 at the turn of the century in 1900. Poaching and habitat loss are the two main reasons for the decline in Bengal tigers. They were never able to adapt to harsh conditions, despite being a dominant species. Tigers, also known as the Royal Bengal tiger, which is a subspecies of tiger, can be found in the Indian subcontinent. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and is considered the second largest tiger in the world.
4. South American harpies.
One of the largest and most powerful of the fifty eagle species in the world, the South American harpy eagle lives in the tropical lowland forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico south to eastern Bolivia, and southern Brazil to northern Argentina. This is an endangered species. The main threat to its existence is the loss of habitat due to constant deforestation, destruction of nesting sites and hunting.
5. Tree frogs.
These are frogs found in Central and South America. They are known for their bright colors, which warn other animals that they are poisonous. The frogs' venom is one of the most powerful poisons known and can cause paralysis or death. It is so powerful that one millionth of 30 grams of poison can kill a dog, and less than a crystal of salt can kill a person. One frog has a supply of poison sufficient to send up to 100 people to the next world. Local hunters used poison for their arrows, which is where the frog got its name in English, Poison-Arrow Frog.
6. Sloths
Sloths are extremely slow-moving mammals that can be found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. There are two types of sloths: two-toed and three-toed. Most sloths are the size of a small dog. They have short, flat heads. Their fur is grey-brown, but sometimes they appear grey-green because they move so slowly that tiny camouflage plants have time to grow all over their fur. Sloths are nocturnal and sleep curled up with their heads between their arms and legs turned close together.
7. Spider monkeys
Spider monkeys are large. An adult monkey can grow almost 60 centimeters tall, not including the tail. The tail is very powerful. Monkeys use it as an extra limb. Spider monkeys like to hang upside down, clinging to branches with their tail and legs, making them look like spiders, which is where they get their name. These monkeys can also jump from branch to branch at high speed. Their coat color can be black, brown, gold, red or bronze. Spider monkeys are the object of close attention among hunters, which is why they are on the verge of extinction. This photo is probably your only chance to ever see this monkey. Not to mention our species...
8. Wine snakes.
Just about a centimeter in diameter, vine snakes are a surprisingly “slender”, elongated species. If the snake lies among the branches of forest trees, its proportions and green-brown color make it almost indistinguishable from dense vines and vines. The head of a snake is just as thin and oblong. A slow-moving predator, active during the day and at night, the wine snake feeds mainly on young birds, which it steals from nests, and on lizards. If the snake is threatened, it inflates the front of its body, revealing the bright coloring that would normally be hidden, and opens its mouth wide.
9. Capybaras
The capybara spends a lot of time in the water and is an excellent swimmer and diver. She has webbed toes on her front and back paws. When she swims, only her eyes, ears and nostrils are visible above the water. Capybaras eat plant matter, including aquatic plants, and their molars grow throughout their lives to counteract wear and tear from chewing. Capybaras live in families and are active at dawn and dusk. In areas where they are frequently disturbed, capybaras can be nocturnal. Males and females look the same, but males have a gland on their nose that is larger than females. They mate in the spring, and after 15-18 weeks of pregnancy there may be 2 babies in the litter. Babies are well developed at birth.
10. Brazilian tapirs.
Brazilian tapirs can almost always be found near bodies of water. These animals are good swimmers and divers, but they also move quickly on land, even over rough and mountainous terrain. Tapirs are dark brown in color. Their fur is short, and a mane grows from the back of the neck down. Thanks to its movable snout, the tapir feeds on leaves, buds, shoots and small branches that the tapir plucks from trees, as well as fruits, herbs and aquatic plants. The female gives birth to a single spotted-striped baby after a pregnancy that lasts from 390 to 400 days.
The tropics occupy less than 2% earth's surface. Geographically climate zone goes along the equator. The limit of deviation from it in both directions is considered to be a latitude of 23.5 degrees. More than half of the planet's animals live in this belt.
This also applies to plants. But today in the spotlight rainforest animals. Let's start with the Amazon. The area covers 2,500,000 square kilometers.
These are the largest tropics of the planet and, in combination, its lungs, whose forests produce 20% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. There are 1,800 species of butterflies alone in the Amazon forests. There are 300 species of reptiles. Let's focus on unique ones that do not live in other areas of the planet.
river dolphin
In addition, they differ in color. The backs of the animals are gray-white, and the undersides are pinkish. The older the dolphin, the lighter its top. Only in captivity the endemic does not become snow-white.
Amazon dolphins live with humans for no more than 3 years. Puberty occurs at 5. So, zoologists did not expect any offspring in captivity and stopped torturing the animals. As you understand, there are no Amazonian endemics in any third-party dolphinarium in the world. In their homeland, by the way, they are called inia, or buto.
River dolphin or inia
Piranha trombetas
Trombetas is one of the tributaries of the Amazon. What animals are in the rainforest inspire terror? In the series of names, there will probably be . There are known cases when they gnawed people.
A lot of books have been written and films have been made on this topic. However, the new kind Piranha prefers grass and algae to flesh. On diet food, fish can eat up to 4 kilograms. The Trambetas piranha reaches half a meter in length.
Trambetas piranha
Red-bearded (copper) jumper
It is included in interesting animals of the rainforest only 3 years ago. A new species of monkey was discovered in the Amazon jungle in 2014 during an expedition organized by the World Wide Fund. wildlife.
In the “lungs of the planet” they found a 441-in new species. There is only one mammal among them - the red-bearded jumper. classified as broad-nosed. Presumably, there are no more than 250 jumpers in the world.
Animals are monogamous; once they form a pair, they do not cheat and live separately with their children. When the jumpers are happy with each other, they purr, which makes them stand out from other monkeys.
In the photo there is a copper jumper monkey
Possibly lost
In Latin, the name of the species is Alabates amissibilis. This is the smallest one. The species is on the verge of extinction. The difficulty of detecting it is also related to its size. Alabates are frogs the size of your pinky fingernail.
They are beige-brown with stripes on the sides. Despite their tiny size, frogs of this species are poisonous, so they are not suitable for French cuisine, even if not protective status.
The smallest frog Alabates amissibilis
Herbivorous dracula bat
Looks scary, but he's a vegetarian. Dracula is a flyer. On its muzzle there is a skin outgrowth called the nasal leaf. Combined with wide-set, slanted eyes, the growth creates an intimidating appearance.
We add large and pointed ears, compressed lips, bluish coloring, and bonyness. It turns out to be an image from nightmares. Actually, herbivorous devils are active at night. During the day, animals hide in the crowns of trees or caves.
Herbivorous bat Dracula
Fire salamander
The name of the species, so far, generalized, refers to. It was their relative who was discovered in the tropics near the Amazon. The scientific name of the species is Cercosaura hophoides. The lizard has a red tail.
The body is dark with thin yellowish veins. Scientists have long suspected the existence of the species. A clutch of eggs of an unknown reptile was found on the lands of Colombia.
However, neither father nor mother could be found. Perhaps the one found in 2014 is the parent of the clutch. Zoologists suggest that Cercosaura hophoides is no more than a hundred years old.
Pictured is a fire salamander
Okapi
The population is also on the verge of extinction. This is a rare species of giraffe. It was shown to Western zoologists by pygmies. This happened in 1900. However, this conversation is already about the endemics of the African jungle, in particular the forests of the Congo. Let's go under their canopy.
Externally, this giraffe resembles a horse with an elongated neck. Compared to the neck of an ordinary giraffe, it is, on the contrary, short. But okapi has a record-breaking language. The length of the organ allows you not only to reach the succulent foliage, but also to wash your eyes animals. Rainforest World Okapi also had a blue tongue.
As for the coat color, it is chocolate. Transverse white stripes are visible on the legs. In combination with dark brown, they are reminiscent of the colors of zebras.
Okapi are gentle parents. These animals living in the tropical forest, They love children dearly, never take their eyes off them, and protect them to the last drop of blood. Considering the number of okapi, it is impossible to do otherwise. The species is listed in the Red Book and each cub is worth its weight in gold. Several giraffes are not born. One pregnancy - one child.
Tetra Congo
This is a fish of the characin family. There are almost 1700 species. Congo is found only in the basin of the river of the same name. The fish has a bright blue-orange coloring. It is expressed in males. Females are “dressed” more modestly.
The fins of the species resemble the finest lace. The Congo reaches 8.5 centimeters in length and is peaceful. The description is ideal for aquarium fish. The endemic is indeed kept at home. Congos love dark soil. One fish needs about 5 liters of soft water.
Tetra Congo fish
Bales shrew
Belongs to the shrews, lives in the east. The range is 500 square kilometers. The animal's burrows are not found throughout their entire length, but only in 5 localities. All of them are destroyed by man.
The animal has a cone-shaped nose, an elongated body, a bare tail, and gray short fur. In general, for most, yes a mouse. The problem of its survival is that without food the animal does not last longer than 11 hours. In conditions of danger and hunger, the latter wins. While the shrew catches the insect, others catch it.
Bales shrew mouse
African marabou
Refers to storks. The bird was nicknamed adjutant for its peculiar gait. It is ranked among the largest birds. This refers to flying species. African grows up to 1.5 meters.
The weight of the animal is about 10 kilograms. Lightens the figure a little bare head. The absence of feathers reveals wrinkled skin with a massive outgrowth on the neck, where the bird, when sitting, puts its equally massive beak.
Appearance, as they say, is not for everyone. It is not for nothing that the animal is made the hero of many phantasmagoric books, where the bird inspires, at a minimum, awe. As an example, let’s take “Nightmares of the Marabou Stork” by Irvine Welsh.
Now, let's move on to the Asian tropics. They are also filled with rare animals. The names of some of them are familiar at first glance. On the island of Sumatra, for example, they are proud. The fact that it is unusual is indicated by the prefix to the name of the beast.
Pictured is an African marabou
bearded pig
The animal looks like a cross between a wild boar and an anteater. The elongated nose, reminiscent of a trunk, helps to reach leaves, pick fruits and fish fallen fruits from the forest canopy.
Swims well and also uses its nose when spearfishing. Its main function is also appropriate. The sense of smell helps to find mating partners and recognize danger.
Tapirs are known for their long periods of bearing their young. They give birth approximately 13 months after conception. More than one offspring is not born. At the same time, the lifespan of tapirs is a maximum of 30 years.
It becomes clear why the species is dying out. Despite their protected status, tapirs are desirable prey... for,. Deforestation is also decimating the population.
Panda
Not a single list can do without it." names of rainforest animals" Endemic to China, it lives in bamboo groves and is a symbol of the country. In the West they learned about it only in the 19th century.
Zoologists in Europe argued for a long time whether to classify them as raccoons or bears. Genetic tests helped. The animal is recognized as a bear. He leads a secretive lifestyle in three provinces of the PRC. These are Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu.
Pandas have 6 toes on their paws. One of them is just appearance. It is actually a modified carpal bone. The number of teeth grinding plant food is also off the charts.
A person has 7 times less. That is, pandas have more than 200 teeth. They are active about 12 hours a day. Only 1/5 of the leaves eaten are absorbed. Considering that pandas do not hibernate, the tropical forests are saved only by the rapid growth of bamboo, a couple of meters per day, and the small number of bears themselves.
Let's complete the journey. Its tropical zone is also affected. The continent is deserted. Tropical forests grow only along the coasts. Their eastern part is included in World Heritage UNESCO. Let's find out what these wonders are for.
Helmeted cassowary
This is a bird of the ostrich order and does not fly. The name of the species is Indonesian, translated as “horned head”. The skin growth on it resembles a comb, but is flesh-colored. There is also a semblance of earrings under the beak. They are scarlet, but thinner and more elongated than those of a rooster. The feathers on the neck are indigo, and the main color is blue-black.
Colorful appearance combined with power. There have been recorded cases where a person was killed with a kick. It is because of cassowaries that a number of Australian parks are closed to the public.
Birds are not aggressive under normal conditions. Protective reflexes make themselves known. The impact force is predictable with a weight of 60 kilos and a height of one and a half meters. The legs are the strongest part of cassowaries, like other ostriches.
Helmeted cassowary
Wallaby
The second name of the species is woody. At first glance it looks more like a bear. Thick, dense fur covers the entire body. The bag is not immediately noticeable. The cub, by the way, can linger indefinitely.
During periods of danger they are able to postpone childbirth. Physiologically, they should pass a maximum of one year after conception. It happens that a child dies before his time. Then, a new embryo comes to replace it, the first to become stillborn, without obliging it to take care of itself.
Scientists pin their hopes on tree kangaroos to save humanity. The stomach of the endemic is capable of processing methane. In the event of global warming, this will come in handy not only for wallabies, but also for people.
They also puzzle over the thermoregulation of tree kangaroos. The view manages to maintain comfortable temperature bodies in the heat. Not a single individual has yet died from overheating, even without shade and plenty of drink.
Tree wallabies are called tree wallabies due to their lifestyle. Observations of animals have shown that most of them die on the same plant where they were born. Hunters found wallabies here.
The hunt for the endemic was announced because of a legend that the beast once attacked a child. This has not been documented, however, the population is in danger.
The animal's protective status helped stop the extermination. To save humanity, a few tens of thousands of individuals are not enough. Therefore, first they will save and multiply them.
Tree kangaroo wallaby
Koala
Without her, just like in Asia without the panda, the list would be incomplete. - symbol of Australia. The animal belongs to wombats. These are marsupials with two incisors. Colonizers of the continent mistook koalas for bears. As a result, the scientific name of the species, phascolarctos, is translated from Greek as “bear with a bag.”
Like bamboo-dependent pandas, koalas only eat eucalyptus. Animals reach 68 centimeters in height and 13 kilograms of mass. The remains of a koala ancestor have been found that was almost 30 times larger.
Like modern wombats, the ancients had two thumbs on each paw. Fingers positioned to the side help to grasp and strip branches.
Studying the ancestors of koalas, scientists came to the conclusion that the species is degrading. The head of modern individuals contains 40% cerebrospinal fluid. At the same time, the weight of the brain does not exceed 0.2% of total mass marsupials
The organ doesn't even fill the cranium. This is exactly what happened to the ancestors of koalas. Zoologists believe that the reason is the choice of a low-calorie diet. Although, many animals that are distinguished by their intelligence feed on leaves.
I remember the beginning of the article, where it is said that the tropics are less than 2% of the earth's surface. It seems like little, but so much life. Likewise, koalas, although they are not distinguished by intelligence, inspire entire nations.
And, who knows, in the presence of animals about their mental abilities It’s better not to speak, in case you offend. Koalas are blind, and therefore have excellent hearing.
In this post there will be scary, nasty, cute, kind, beautiful, incomprehensible animals.
Plus a short comment about each. They all really exist
Watch and be surprised
SNAP TOOTH- a mammal from the order of insectivores, divided into two main species: the Cuban slittooth and the Haitian. The animal is relatively large compared to other types of insectivores: its length is 32 centimeters, its tail is on average 25 cm, the weight of the animal is about 1 kilogram, and its body is dense. 
MANED WOLF. Lives in South America. The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat; they help the animal to overcome obstacles such as tall grass, growing on the plains. 
AFRICAN CIVET- the only representative of the genus of the same name. These animals live in Africa open spaces with high grass from Senegal to Somalia, southern Namibia and in the eastern regions South Africa. The size of the animal can visually increase quite significantly when the civet raises its fur when excited. And her fur is thick and long, especially on the back closer to the tail. The paws, muzzle and tail end are completely black, most of the body is spotted. 
MUSKRAT. The animal is quite famous due to its sonorous name. It's just a good photo. 
PROCHIDNA. This miracle of nature usually weighs up to 10 kg, although larger specimens have also been observed. By the way, the length of the echidna’s body reaches 77 cm, and this is not counting their cute five to seven centimeter tail. Any description of this animal is based on comparison with the echidna: the legs of the echidna are higher, the claws are more powerful. Another feature of the echidna’s appearance is the spurs on the hind legs of males and the five-fingered hind limbs and three-fingered forelimbs. 
CAPIBARA. Semi-aquatic mammal, the largest of modern rodents. It is the only representative of the capybara family (Hydrochoeridae). There is a dwarf variety, Hydrochoerus isthmius, which is sometimes considered as a separate species (lesser capybara). 
SEA CUCUMBER. HOLOTHURIA. Sea egg pods, sea cucumbers(Holothuroidea), a class of invertebrate animals such as echinoderms. Species eaten as food are common name"trepang". 
PANGOLIN. This post simply could not do without him. 
HELL VAMPIRE. Mollusk. Despite its obvious similarity with octopus and squid, scientists have identified this mollusk as a separate order Vampyromorphida (lat.), because it is characterized by retractable sensitive whip-shaped filaments. 
AARDVARK. In Africa, these mammals are called aardvark, which translated into Russian means “earthen pig.” In fact, the aardvark is very similar in appearance to a pig, only with an elongated snout. The structure of the ears of this amazing animal is very similar to that of a hare. There is also a muscular tail, which is very similar to the tail of an animal such as a kangaroo. 
JAPANESE GIANT SALAMANDER. Today it is the largest amphibian, which can reach 160 cm in length, weigh up to 180 kg and can live up to 150 years, although the officially registered maximum age giant salamander is 55 years old. 
BEARDED PIG. In different sources, the Bearded Pig species is divided into two or three subspecies. These are the curly bearded pig (Sus barbatus oi), which lives on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus barbatus) and the Palawan bearded pig, which live, as the name suggests, on the islands of Borneo and Palawan, as well as on Java , Kalimantan and the small islands of the Indonesian archipelago in South-East Asia. 
SUMATRAN RHINO. They belong to the odd-toed ungulates of the rhinoceros family. This type of rhinoceros is the smallest of the entire family. The body length of an adult Sumatran rhinoceros can reach 200–280 cm, and the height at the withers can vary from 100 to 150 cm. Such rhinoceroses can weigh up to 1000 kg. 
SULAWESI BEAR COUSCUS. An arboreal marsupial living in the upper layer of lowland tropical forests. The fur of the bear cuscus consists of a soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. Coloration ranges from gray to brown, with a lighter belly and limbs, and varies depending on the geographic subspecies and age of the animal. The prehensile, non-haired tail is approximately half the length of the animal and serves as a fifth limb, making it easier to move through the dense tropical forest. The bear cuscus is the most primitive of all cuscus, retaining primitive tooth growth and structural features of the skull. 
GALAGO. Its large fluffy tail is clearly comparable to that of a squirrel. And his charming face and graceful movements, flexibility and insinuation, clearly reflect his cat-like traits. The amazing jumping ability, mobility, strength and incredible dexterity of this animal clearly show its nature as a funny cat and an elusive squirrel. Of course, there would be a place to use your talents, because a cramped cage is very poorly suited for this. But, if you give this animal a little freedom and sometimes allow him to walk around the apartment, then all his quirks and talents will come true. Many even compare it to a kangaroo. 
WOMBAT. Without a photograph of a wombat, it is generally impossible to talk about strange and rare animals. 
AMAZONIAN DOLPHIN. Is the largest river dolphin. Inia geoffrensis, as scientists call it, reaches 2.5 meters in length and weighs 2 quintals. Light gray juveniles become lighter with age. The Amazonian dolphin has a full body, with a thin tail and a narrow muzzle. A round forehead, a slightly curved beak and small eyes are the characteristics of this species of dolphin. The Amazonian dolphin is found in rivers and lakes Latin America. 
MOONFISH or MOLA-MOLA. This fish can be more than three meters long and weigh about one and a half tons. The largest specimen of the sunfish was caught in New Hampshire, USA. Its length was five and a half meters, there is no data on weight. The shape of the fish’s body resembles a disk; it was this feature that gave rise to the Latin name. The moon fish has thick skin. It is elastic, and its surface is covered with small bony projections. The larvae of fish of this species and young individuals swim in the usual way. Adults large fish swim on their sides, quietly moving their fins. They seem to lie on the surface of the water, where they are very easy to notice and catch. However, many experts believe that only sick fish swim this way. As an argument, they cite the fact that the stomach of fish caught on the surface is usually empty. 
TASMANIAN DEVIL. Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this black animal with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth has a dense physique and a stern disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the devil. Emitting ominous screams at night, massive and clumsy Tasmanian devil looks like little bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, big head, the muzzle is dull. 
LORI. A characteristic feature of the loris is big size eyes, which may be bordered by dark circles, with a white dividing stripe between the eyes. The face of a loris can be compared to a clown mask. This most likely explains the animal's name: Loeris means "clown". 
GAVIAL. Of course, one of the representatives of the crocodile order. With age, the gharial's muzzle becomes even narrower and longer. Due to the fact that the gharial feeds on fish, its teeth are long and sharp, located at a slight angle for ease of eating. 
OKAPI. FOREST GIRAFFE. Traveling through Central Africa, journalist and African explorer Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) more than once encountered local aborigines. Having once met an expedition equipped with horses, the natives of the Congo told the famous traveler that in their jungle there were wild animals very similar to his horses. The Englishman, who had seen a lot, was somewhat puzzled by this fact. After some negotiations, in 1900 the British were finally able to acquire parts of the skin. mysterious beast at local population and send them to the Royal Zoological Society in London, where the unknown animal was given the name “Johnston's Horse” (Equus johnstoni), that is, it was assigned to the equine family. But imagine their surprise when a year later they managed to get a whole skin and two skulls of an unknown animal, and discovered that It looked more like dwarf giraffe times ice age. Only in 1909 was it possible to catch a living specimen of Okapi. 
WALABI. TREE KANGAROO. The genus of Tree kangaroos - wallabies (Dendrolagus) includes 6 species. Of these, D. Inustus or the bear wallaby, D. Matschiei or Matchisha's wallaby, which has a subspecies D. Goodfellowi (Goodfellow's wallaby), D. Dorianus - the Doria wallaby, live in New Guinea. In Australian Queensland, there are D. Lumholtzi - Lumholtz's wallaby (bungari), D. Bennettianus - Bennett's wallaby, or tharibin. Their original habitat was New Guinea, but now wallabies are also found in Australia. Tree kangaroos live in tropical forests of mountainous regions, at altitudes from 450 to 3000 m. above sea level. The body size of the animal is 52-81 cm, the tail is from 42 to 93 cm long. Wallabies weigh, depending on the species, from 7.7 to 10 kg for males and from 6.7 to 8.9 kg. females. 
WOLVERINE. Moves quickly and deftly. The animal has an elongated muzzle, a large head, with rounded ears. The jaws are powerful, the teeth are sharp. Wolverine is a “big-footed” animal; its feet are disproportionate to the body, but their size allows them to move freely in deep water. snow cover. Each paw has huge and curved claws. Wolverine climbs trees very well and has sharp vision. The voice is like a fox. 
FOSSA. The island of Madagascar has preserved animals that are not found not only in Africa itself, but also in the rest of the world. One of the rarest animals is the Fossa - the only representative of the genus Cryptoprocta and the largest carnivorous mammal, living on the island of Madagascar. The appearance of the Fossa is a little unusual: it is a cross between a civet and a small puma. Sometimes the fossa is also called the Madagascar lion, since the ancestors of this animal were much larger and reached the size of a lion. Fossa has a squat, massive and slightly elongated body, the length of which can reach up to 80 cm (on average it is 65-70 cm). The fossa's paws are long, but quite thick, with the hind paws being higher than the front paws. The tail often happens equal to length body and reaches 65 cm. 
MANUL approves of this post and is here only because he has to be. Everyone already knows him. 
PHENEC. STEPPE FOX. He assents to the manula and is present here insofar as. After all, everyone saw him. 
NAKED MORAVARY gives the Pallas's cat and fennec cat pluses in their karma and invites them to organize a club of the most fearful animals in RuNet. 
PALM THIEF. Representative of decapod crustaceans. Its habitat is the western part Pacific Ocean and tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. This animal from the family of land crayfish is quite large for its species. The body of an adult reaches a size of up to 32 cm and a weight of up to 3-4 kg. For a long time it was mistakenly believed that with its claws it could even split coconuts, which he then eats. To date, scientists have proven that crayfish can only feed on already split coconuts. They, being its main source of nutrition, gave it its name palm thief. Although he is not averse to eating other types of food - the fruits of Pandanus plants, organic substances from the soil, and even his own kind.
IN this material talks about the life of animals tropical zone. The article is illustrated with photographs of tropical forest animals.
In an African forest.
Most of African forests located between two tropics: the Northern (Tropic of Cancer) and the Southern (Tropic of Capricorn). In this part of the earth, all seasons are similar to each other; during a year average temperature and the amount of rainfall remains almost constant. Therefore, almost all animals in this zone lead sedentary image life - after all, they, unlike the inhabitants of temperate and cold climatic zones, there is no need to make seasonal migrations in search of suitable places to live.
Hippopotamus.
The name of this animal translated from Greek means “river horse”. It weighs more than three tons.
Water is the natural habitat of this huge mammal, where the hippopotamus spends most time. However, with such a thick, squat figure, it is not easy to swim, so usually hippos do not go far into the water, but stay in shallow water, where they can reach the bottom with their paws. The sense organs - movable ears, nostrils equipped with closing membranes, and eyes with protruding supraeyes - are located on the upper part of the muzzle, so that the hippopotamus can be almost completely submerged in water, continuing to breathe air and carefully monitor everything around it. In case of danger threatening him or his cubs, he becomes very aggressive and, no matter where - in water or on land - immediately attacks the enemy.
Mothers give birth to their young either on the shore, or more often right in the water. In the latter case, newborns, as soon as they are born, swim to the surface so as not to suffocate. Hippopotamuses give birth during the rainy season, during which time the mother has an abundance of milk due to the abundant and varied food. To feed the cubs, the female climbs onto land and stretches out comfortably on her side.
Hippopotamuses never live alone; they gather in groups of several dozen individuals. Often, both in water and on land, adult males play with growing cubs. Moving on land. Hippos always follow the same familiar paths.
Feeling in danger, the hippopotamus emits a threatening roar, and opens its huge mouth as wide as possible, showing the enemy its unusually long lower fangs. This threatening posture usually produces the desired result.
Crocodile.
Only occasionally can crocodiles swim into sea water; usually they settle along the banks of rivers and lakes in areas with warm and hot climates. Crocodiles are much more comfortable and calm in the water than on land. They swim with the help of their paws and tail; Large individuals can spend about an hour under water. During the hottest hours of the day, crocodiles lie on land with their mouths wide open: due to the lack of sweat glands, they can only get rid of excess heat in this way, like dogs who stick out their tongues in the heat.
The female crocodile lays her eggs in a hole specially dug on the shore, not far from the water. The cub breaks the shell using a special horn located on its head, which soon falls off.
Young crocodiles feed mainly on fish, but also birds and insects. Only as adults will they be able to cope with more large mammals, which need to be caught, pulled from the shore and kept under water for some time.
A crocodile does not need teeth for chewing food, but only for grabbing prey and tearing pieces of meat from it.
Even such terrifying reptiles, like crocodiles, have enemies - animals that hunt for crocodile eggs. The most dangerous of them is the monitor lizard, big lizard. Having discovered an egg, he begins to unusually quickly dig the ground near him, distracting the female crocodile, who usually stands guard, and having stolen the egg from the nest, he takes it to a place inaccessible to crocodiles and eats it.
Like many other land animals that live in water for long periods of time, crocodiles' ears, nostrils and eyes are located on the top of the head so that they remain above the water when the animal swims.
Smallest crocodile: Osborne's caiman, 120 centimeters long.
Chimpanzee.
Thanks to its intelligence and learning ability, it is the most famous of all monkeys. Although chimpanzees are excellent climbers, they spend a lot of time on the ground and even travel on foot. But they still sleep in trees, where they feel safer. This is one of the few animals that uses various tools: chimpanzees take a broken branch into a termite mound, and then lick insects from it. These monkeys are practically omnivorous. Communities living in different regions, often and eat differently.
Chimpanzees' "vocabulary" consists of various sounds, but in communication they also use facial expressions; their faces can take on a variety of expressions, often very similar to human ones.
As a rule, only one baby is born to chimpanzees; twins are extremely rare. The cubs spend their entire childhood literally in the embrace of their mother, tightly clinging to her fur.
Chimpanzees live in fairly large societies, but not as closed as other apes, such as gorillas. On the contrary, chimpanzees often move from one group to another.
The strongest males, defending their primacy, uproot small trees and wave this club with a threatening look.
There is usually a tender friendship between female chimpanzees. It is not uncommon for a mother to entrust her cub to another female for a time; Sometimes such nannies take, in addition to their own, two or three other people’s cubs for a walk.
Gorilla.
Despite its terrifying appearance, this large monkey, more than two meters tall, is very friendly; males from the same flock usually do not compete with each other, and in order for the leader to be obeyed, it is enough to widen his eyes and utter an appropriate cry, hitting himself on the chest with his fingers. This behavior is just an act and is never followed by an attack. Before a real attack, the gorilla looks into the eyes of the enemy for a long time and silently. Staring directly into the eyes is challenging not only in gorillas, but in almost all mammals, including dogs, cats and even humans.
Baby gorillas stay with their mother for almost four years. When the next one is born, the mother begins to alienate the older one, but never does it rudely; she seems to invite him to try his hand at adulthood himself.
Having woken up, the gorillas go in search of food. They devote the remaining time to rest and games. After the evening meal, they arrange a kind of bedding on the ground, on which they fall asleep.
Okapi.
These are relatives of the giraffe, its height is slightly less than two meters, and its weight is about 250 kilograms. Okapi are extremely timid animals and are distributed in a very narrow geographical area, therefore not studied enough. It is known that they live in thickets of bushes, and their coloring, which at first glance is very unusual, actually makes them completely invisible in natural environment a habitat. Okapi live solitary lives, and only mothers are not separated from their cubs for a long time.
With stripes on the back of the body and on the legs, the okapi resembles a zebra; these stripes serve them for camouflage.
Okapi resemble some types of horses, but the differences are quite noticeable; for example, males have short horns. When playing, okapi lightly hit each other with their muzzles until the defeated one lies on the ground as a sign of the end of the game.
When the mother hears the special calling cry made by the cub in case of danger, she becomes very aggressive and decisively attacks any enemy.
Asian jungle.
Some species of animals that inhabit the Asian jungle, such as elephants, rhinoceroses and leopards, are also found in Africa; however, over thousands of years of evolution, the inhabitants of the jungle have developed many features that distinguish them from their African “brothers”.
Monsoons are the name given to the winds that periodically blow in the tropical zones of Asia. They usually bring heavy rains, which promote rapid growth and renewal of vegetation.
The monsoon season is also favorable for animals: during these periods plant food is abundant and varied, which provides the most Better conditions their growth and reproduction. Just like the Amazon forests, the Asian jungles are very dense and sometimes impenetrable.
Tapir.
They say about the tapir that he is a fossil animal; Indeed, this species, inhabiting several remote regions one after another, has survived on earth since very ancient times, surviving several geological eras.
black-backed tapir can walk on the bottom of the lake!
The female tapir is larger than the male. The most noticeable feature in the structure of the body is the elongated upper lip, which forms a small and very mobile trunk, with the help of which tapirs can pick leaves and tufts of grass - their usual food. They live in Asia black-backed tapirs. Their color is very expressive: black and white. It may seem that these contrasting colors should make them very noticeable, but in fact, from a distance they look very much like an ordinary pile of stones, which are many around. The cubs, on the contrary, have a pockmarked skin with small specks and stripes. In the second year of life, this color will gradually be replaced by an even black color with a characteristic white band - a saddle.
Most tapirs eat leaves, shoots and stems aquatic plants. They love water very much and swim well. They always walk along the same familiar paths, which over time turn into well-trodden paths, ending, as a rule, in a “gutter” - a convenient descent to the water.
The most terrible enemies of tapirs are different kinds felids on land and gharials in water. Very rarely does a tapir try to defend itself; he has practically no means for this and always prefers to run away.
The tapir's body is squat, its legs are short, and there is almost no neck. The movable trunk is a very sensitive organ of smell. - with its help, the tapir explores the surface of the earth and surrounding objects. Vision, on the contrary, is very poorly developed. Asian cats.
Asia does not have felines that live in groups like lions or cheetahs in Africa. All types of Asian cats are loners; each animal rules its own territory and does not allow strangers there. Only tigers sometimes go hunting in small groups. Representatives of the cat family live everywhere in Asia, even in areas with a climate that is not very suitable for them, such as Far East where he reigns Ussurian tiger. The peculiarity of tigers living in the jungle is their hunting style. It consists of sneaking up to the victim as close as possible, remaining unnoticed, and at the last moment rushing at him with one jump from a place or a short run-up.
The royal, or Bengal, tiger is now quite rare. Found in India and Indochina.
Leopard or black panther.
The panther also has spots characteristic of a leopard, although they are completely invisible against a black background. The black panther is a dark-colored leopard.
Clouded leopard. He jumps from branch to branch as well as a monkey. These cats are sometimes called tree tigers.
Speckled cat.
I also call her the fishing cat. In fact, she really likes to live near water and is a good swimmer. In addition to fish and shellfish, it catches small vertebrates on land. The habits of this animal have been little studied.
Tiger.
Tigers adapt to a wide variety of climatic conditions; they live in flat tropical areas, but are also found in the mountains at altitudes of up to 3000 m and in very cold areas; in the latter case, a thick, more than five centimeters, layer of fat forms under their skin, protecting them from heat loss.
Almost all jungle inhabitants are at risk of becoming prey to a tiger. Only large and warlike pachyderms, and even bulls and buffaloes with strong horns, can feel safe.
Contrary to popular belief, the tiger is not very adroit hunter; he's so heavy. That for a successful jump he needs to start his run from a distance of 10 - 15 meters; if the tiger gets closer to its prey, it risks missing.
A tiger litter usually consists of two, three or four cubs. For eight weeks, the mother feeds them exclusively with milk; Then solid food is gradually added to their milk. Only six months later the female begins to go hunting, leaving the cubs for more than a day.
Tigers, like all wild animals, are afraid of humans. However, it happens that an old or sick animal, for which ordinary hunting becomes too difficult, overcomes its innate fear and attacks people.
Monkey.
Among numerous types Among monkeys, there are animals that weigh no more than 70 grams, and there are also those whose mass reaches 250 kilograms. U asian monkeys the tail does not have a grasping function, i.e. a monkey cannot, having caught it on a branch, support its body so that its arms and legs remain free; this is typical only for monkeys living on the American continent.
Orangutan.
The most common monkey in Asia is the orangutan. This is a large monkey that spends most of its time among the branches and only sometimes descends to the ground.
Female orangutans, perhaps more than any other monkey, care about raising their children. Mothers bite their cubs' nails, bathe them in rainwater, and yell at them if they start acting up. The upbringing received in childhood subsequently determines the character of an adult animal.
Nosach.
This monkey owes its name to its huge, ugly nose, which in males sometimes goes down to the chin. The proboscis whale not only climbs trees well, but also swims very well and can stay under water for a long time.
Slender loris.
The pointed muzzle and huge eyes that can see in the dark make this prosimian very cute. During the day, the loris hides in the branches, and at night it gets its food.
Indian pachyderms.
The differences between Indian pachyderms and African ones are not noticeable at first glance. The behavior of both is also very similar: they do not stay in one place for a long time, but move quite long distances in search of suitable food, mainly young foliage. They love water and swim well, sometimes for long periods. They often relax near the water, bathing in muddy mud, which is very beneficial for their skin.
Rhinoceros.
He enjoys the respect of all the other animals, who try to avoid meeting him. Only elephants do not fear them and easily put them to flight if they bother them. A newborn Indian rhinoceros weighs about 65 kilograms.
Unlike the African rhinoceros, it has only one horn and its body is covered with thick shields of skin. It usually moves slowly, but if necessary it can reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
Elephant.
Although its skin appears rough, it is actually very sensitive thanks to a covering of short and flexible bristles that react to even the lightest touch.
The mother never allows the baby elephant to leave her. She watches the cub all the time and begins to call him as soon as she notices that he is a little behind.
A female Indian elephant carries a fetus for about 20 months!