Narrow region near equator in west Africa,
southwest Asia, South America, Central America.
Between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of
Capricorn.
Largest one stretches across the Amazon Basin
in South America.
In US, few tropical rain forests left in
Hawaii.
Characteristics
Lots of moisture, warm temperatures
Average temperature: 80 degrees F..
Average humidity: 83%
Minimum average rainfall is 2 meters (41
inches); maximum is 10 meters (400 inches).
Lots of exotic plants, animals
Layers of Rain Forest: plants & animals
found in each
Floor: Dark, wet, little wind, little change in
temperature. Palms, herbs, mushroom live on forest floor.
Acouchis (rabbit-sized rodents), peccaries (wild pigs), tarantulas, snakes,
insects (cleanup crew for recycling nutrients) are found on floor of rain
forest.
Understory: Some sunlight, less moisture.
Smaller trees (15 feet) and shrubs. Jaguars and margays (climbing
cat), small birds and mammals, snakes live in the understory.
Canopy (Umbrella): Continuous layer of
green. Sunlight above, near darkness below. Trees with flat
leaves can grow 65 to 100 feet above ground. Small plants like
bromeliads, orchids, and philodendrons live above the forest floor by
perching on the branches and trunks of trees. These are called
epiphytes. Vines climb toward the sun. Climbing, flying and
gliding animals like birds, bats, butterflies, sloths, and monkeys can be
found in this layer.
Emergent: Giant trees that tower above all
other plants, usually to heights of 115 to 250 feet. Usually only one
or two emergents per acre, with small leaves, umbrella-shaped crowns, and
tall, slender trunks.
