Which animals have adapted to the rainforest

Living high in the canopy, these slow-moving mammals mainly eat tree leaves. They use their strong toes to climb and hold on to branches. Spider monkeys have also adapted to live at the top of the canopy, and they use their long arms to swing from branch to branch. Living high in the trees helps these animals avoid predators, and they face lower competition over food and other resources because not all animals can get to the tops of the trees.

Animal Camouflage Many rainforest animals use camouflage as an adaptation to keep them safe from predators. They have developed colors and patterns that blend in well with the leaf litter on the ground or the green color of the leaves and moss on the trees. Many species of snakes and lizards use camouflage.

Sloths also use camouflage because they move so slowly that moss grows on their fur, allowing them to blend in with the trees. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal which enables them to avoid diurnal or active during the day predators, by sleeping during the day.

Sloths are built for life in the trees because their arms are longer than their legs and their feet are curved, which helps them grasp branches.

Sloths move very slowly, which helps them avoid being seen by predators. Three-toed sloths have tan coats, while two-toed sloths usually have grey-brown fur. These tones match tree trunks and branches providing camouflage. Additionally, they grow algae in their fur, which contributes to their camouflage.

Sloths have thick, dense coats which keeps them dry during heavy downpours. An undercoat protects their skin which their long outer hairs hang down, providing a natural route for the water to flow off the animal.

Sloths have long, sharp claws that help them cling onto branches. Combined with their sharp teeth, these claws are also used to defend themselves from predators such as anacondas, boas, wild cats, eagles and hawks. Sloths have a prolonged metabolism which enables them to stay in the same tree for several days before descending for food. It also means they only defecate poo! The main physical adaptation of the spider monkey is its prehensile tail.

The prehensile tail allows the spider monkey to be able to grasp the branches of trees. This gives it suppleness and strength. Buttress roots - large roots have ridges which create a large surface area that help to support large trees.

Epiphytes - these are plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy. They get their nutrients from the air and water, not from the soil. Many animals have adapted to the unique conditions of the tropical rainforests. Tropical Rainforest: Animals Tropical rainforests support a greater number and variety of animals than any other biome.

One of the reasons for this great variety of animals is the constant warmth. Tropical rainforests also provide a nearly constant supply of water and a wide variety of food for the animals. Small animals, including monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, and lizards are common in the tropical rainforest. Many of these animals and a multitude of insects never set foot on the ground.