* "The United States has 81 species of frogs, while Madagascar which is smaller than Texas, may have 300 species"(mongabay).
* "Europe has 321 butterfly species, while a park in the rainforest of Peru (Manu National Park) has 1300 species" (mongabay).
About 50% of the animals and insects of the world make their home in the rainforests. The tropical rainforests have many more species of animals and insects than the temperate rainforest because climate of the tropical rainforests is ideal for sustaining life. The year round average temperature of 80 degrees and the abundance of water provides the animals and insects with generous amounts of food.
Most animals and insects of the tropical rainforest are found in the canopy layer. Even though the canopy is high above the forest floor, frogs, monkeys, sloths, snakes and many other animals find foof, shelter and hiding in the canopy.
One of the most unusual animals is found in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Opaki is a relative of the giraffe, but looks like it would be related to a zebra. The Opaki was not discovered until 1901. It has a blue tongue that is one foot long and stripes on its legs and rump!
According to Rainforest Biomes, a website created by educators, insects make up the largest animal group in the tropical rainforests. Ants and other insects live on the forest floor and buttterflies, bees and mosquitoes are found through out the rainfroest.
One ant species, the Cephalotes atratus, can glide back to its tree if it falls off. Click on the link below to watch a clip of this gliding ant and how this adaptation allows the ant to return to its nest.
Mongabay - http://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/201.html
Rainforest Biomes - http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
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