The Tropical Rainforest Biome
By Jake Hoggard & Danish Moin
Intro to the Rainforest
The rainforest terrain is flat without mountains, but may contain small hills. It is very green, and has many trees throughout it. The rainforest may contain a river that help to supply the plants with nutrients
Animals & Adaptations
Wagler's pit viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri): have lots behind the nostril that contain special organs that can sense warm blooded animals to prey upon.
Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) : deep folds of skin on the neck mak i t looks like it has heavy armor to warn off predators
Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus): unique digestive system that lets them have leaves as their main food supply.
Silvery Gibbons (Hylobates moloch): Lean bodies that make it easier to swing from tree to tree.
Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus): Washes their hands with urine to protect against the sting of toxic I stents they eat.
Kinkajou (Potos flavus): sharp claws to climb trees
Linne's Sloth (Choloepus didactylus): to claws on its feet to protect itself.
Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco): wide tail to keep it balanced on tree branches
Plants & Adaptations
1-Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide Moroides)
Has thick hair covering the leaves and stem that, if touched, inflict a powerful sting to deter predators.
2-Strangler Fig (Ficus Destruens)
Has leathery leaves that prevent water loss. Also wraps its roots around close by trees for support.
3-Hairy Gardenia (Attractocarpus hirta)
Has bright white leaves that stand out to attract pollinators.
4-Elephant Ears (Alocasia spp)
Has very broad, wide leaves that maximize surface area for obtaining sunlight for photosynthesis.
5-Tulip Oaks (Argydendron spp)
They have very thick, strong trunks and have broad, long roots that secure the tree.
Links to videos
Fun Facts
1- Rainforests only cover about 6% of Earth's surface, but contain about 50% of all plants and animals known to man.
2-Some Rainforests have been here since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
3-Some tropical rainforest bamboo plants can grow as much as 9 inches per day.
4-Some sloths that live in the rainforest are so slow that moss can grow on their fur.
5-1 out of every 4 ingredients in medicine is from rainforest plants.