jungle animals facts
Jungles are seen in many of your favorite movies and books
that you read ,They are often shown as having tons of vines and plants,
man-eating crocodiles, and big scary bugs that look like they became monsters
overnight! While some of the things that are written about in books and shown
in movies are true, some of them are just that- stories! Continue reading to
learn more about these fascinating places.
Jungle animals include some of the worlds largest and most
unusual creatures, but just what is a jungle? And what is the difference
between a forest, a rain forest and a jungle?
The word "forest" basically means an area with a
large density of trees. Forests can occur in low or high elevation, can be
relatively dry or very rainy, and can be of basically any temperature that
still supports tree growth.
?Where are Jungles Found
Jungles are found all over the world, usually surrounding
rain forests that have grown. The most famous jungles in the world can be found
in Central America and South America, but they are located in other areas, as
well. Because they need warm environments with hot and steamy temperatures, jungles
are typically found near the equator.
?What Type of Weather Do Jungles Have
Because jungles surround rain forests and are found in
similar places, the weather in jungles is about the same as it is in the
rain forest. The weather in jungles is very hot and humid. It typically rains a
lot in these places, which also helps the plants grow. Because the weather is
always warm and there is never any winter or freeze period, organisms grow
quickly and constantly in the ideal environment, especially different types of
bacteria.
?What kind of plants are in the jungle
Some of the most common types of trees that can be found in
the jungle are the Brazil-nut tree, palm trees, and even trees that only grow
on other trees, called neophytes. It is also home to vines, moss, and ferns.
Because the jungle is already such a harsh environment for plants, they cannot
afford to be attacked or eaten by animals, too. Many types of plants have
adapted to give off poisonous toxins if an animal should come to close, using
it to protect themselves from danger.
MOUNTAIN GORILLA
Mountain gorillas are the largest living primates on earth!
Along with chimpanzees, orangutan, and bonobos, they are the closest living
relatives of humans, with mountain gorillas having the most developed brain of
the four. They live primarily on the lush mountain sides of national parks in
Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa.
Mountain gorillas live in groups of roughly 30 members, with one dominant, male
troop leader called a ‘silver back’ for the silver color in his coat.
BLUE MORPH BUTTERFLY
With its brilliant, iridescent blue wings, the blue morph
butterfly flutters through the rain forest canopy. The many “eye spots” on its
brown underside trick predators into thinking the butterfly is a large
predator.
OKAPI
The striking okapi—the closest living relative of the
giraffe—lives in the dense tropical Turin Forest of Central Africa. A master of
camouflage, its striped hindquarters and brown hide helps it “disappear” into
the filtered light of the forest.
BROWN-THROAT ED THREE-TOED SLOTH
The slow-moving sloth, weighing only eight or nine pounds,
lives exclusively in trees, feeding on leaves, twigs, and fruit. It moves so
slowly that its fur takes on a green tinge from the algae that grows on it. It
can take a month to digest a single meal.
JAGUAR
Jaguars are famous for their beautiful spotted coats, which
help them hide among st the grasses, bushes, and trees where they live. The
rare, all-black (mechanistic) jaguar is what we commonly refer to as a black
panther. Jaguars are known to eat more than 85 species of prey, including
armadillos, peccaries, carapace, tapir, deer, squirrels, and birds and can even
snatch fish, turtles and young caiman from the water.
CARAPACE
Bearing a strong resemblance to its guinea pig cousin, the
carapace is the largest rodent on Earth, weighing in at more than 100 pounds
and standing two feet tall. It lives in the dense vegetation that surrounds
water, and frequently leaps in water bodies to hide from predators. It can hold
its breath for up to five minutes.
SCARLET MACAW
One of the most iconic rain forest species, the scarlet macaw
is a striking, large parrot with bright red plumage and brilliant blue and
yellow wing feathers. Its powerful beak can open hard nuts and seeds. Scarlet
macaws are one of the few species that mate for life.
POISON DART FROG
One of the most brightly colored animals on the planet, the
poison dart frog uses its color to warn predators of the toxic venom the lies
within its skin. Indigenous cultures often use this frog’s poison to coat the
tip of blow darts used for hunting.
BLACK HOWLER MONKEY
The black howler monkey earns its moniker with the loud howl
it uses to mark territory. These vocalizations, which sound like a strong wind
blowing through a tunnel, can be heard up to two miles away. These monkeys live
high up in tall rain forest trees in groups of 4 to 19.
SULAWESI BEAR MUSCULUS
Named for its thick, dark, and bear-like fur, the Sulawesi
bear musculus isn't a true bear, but is actually an arboreal marsupial. Like
other marsupials, the female Sulawesi bear musculus gives birth to relatively
underdeveloped offspring and carries the infant in a pouch on her belly until
it is approximately eight months old and sufficiently developed for survival.
They live in the undisturbed forests of Indonesia, predominantly on the island
of Sulawesi.
GREEN ANACONDA
The storied green anaconda is one of the largest snakes in
the world, reaching over 30 feet in length, 12 inches in diameter, and weighing
over 550 pounds. Due to its size, it is quite cumbersome on land, but it is
stealthy in the water.
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