5 Animals from Each Layer of the Rainforest

The rainforest is one of the most fascinating habitats on Earth, home to incredible animals from the forest floor to the treetops! Each layer offers a unique environment, with amazing creatures to discover. So, let’s journey through each layer of the rainforest and meet some of the incredible animals that call this amazing habitat home!

Animals from Each Layer of the Rainforest

River - Matamata Turtle

We start our journey through the rainforest in the rivers that divide the forest. Rainforests usually hold some of the largest rivers in the world, like the Amazon river, and are home to a huge amount of wildlife. There are three different types of river: white-water rivers, muddy and rich in sediment; dark, tea-coloured waters stained by decaying organic matter called blackwater rivers; and clearwater rivers which are transparent, green- or blue-tinted waters flowing over rocks.

One of the many animals that live in this layer is the Matamata Turtle! These turtles live in the soft, muddy shallows of South America and they have very distinctive shells. It's rough and knobbly, and their nose is shaped like a snorkel. Even though they live their lives in the river, this species is not well adapted to swimming in open water, preferring cosy rivers.

Forest Floor - Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

We're out of the river now and exploring what creeps and crawls across the forest floor. Because this layer is protected from the sun and wind, it's extremely hot and humid. The forest floor is incredibly important for sustaining this habitat, it'd where all the decomposition takes place! Dead leaves and animals, as well as animal waste products, drop onto the floor and are turned into vital nutrients that benefit the flora and fauna of the rainforest.

One animal that helps in this process is the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. These insects are big fans of stuff that other animals might turn their nose at, like rotting food and poop. Their name comes from their amazing survival skill. They can hiss - this fools potential predators into thinking there's a snake about and scampering off! They can also survive for up to a week without their head!

Understory - Reticulated Python

We're in the understory now! This is where all the foliage and new trees live! There is very little light in this layer and competition is fierce, so plants must adapt to have the best chance of survival. Leaves are broader and vines snake up tree trunks towards tiny slivers of light. We begin to see more arboreal animals in this section, with snakes, lizards and frogs using the plant life to move around and stay safe.

Reticulated pythons call this layer home. They are one of the longest snake species in the world, and although they are large they can move remarkably fast. Their markings reflect the shadows and colours of the canopy above, making it great for camouflage. They're also -excellent breeder, with females able to lay 60-100 eggs at a time!

Canopy - Two-Toed Sloth

We're up in the canopy! This layer is often referred to as the 'ceiling' of the rainforest due to the dense vegetation that makes up this section. We're 30-45 metres from the ground here and many birds and insects nestle in between the leaves and branches, hiding from larger predators, and monkeys can be seen swinging from tree to tree

One animal that loves the canopy is the two-toed sloth! These sloths spend their whole lives hanging upside down from tree branches, and because of this they have incredible powerful grips and an arched spine which supports their bodies throughout their lives. Sloths live most of their lives in the slow lane, moving at a gentle pace and sleeping for up to 15 hours per day.

Emergent layer - Green winged macaw

We've reached the top of the rainforest. It's beautiful and sunny up here, and cooling rain falls onto the top of the leaves. The fight for sunlight favours the strongest, tallest plants so the best of the bunch burst through the canopy, enjoying all the sunshine they can with some trees growing to a huge 70 metres tall! In this final layer, birds enjoy flying through the warm breeze, and insects flutter from leaf to leaf.

One such bird is the green-winged macaw! These birds are endemic to the rainforests of Central and Southern America. They can live to be between 60 - 100 years old, and they form monogamous relationships with their mates. Due to their popularity in the pet trade, they are under threat by illegal poaching.

So there you go! Had fun exploring the rainforest with us? Let us know your favourite facts and get in touch to book one of our rainforest workshops!