South America Tropical Rain Forest Neotropical Rain Forests

South America Tropical Rain Forest

Neotropical Rain Forests • Stretch from Mexico to Brazil • Along the Atlantic and North Pacific coasts of South America • Includes the Amazon rain forest • 2. 3 million square miles • Parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Rain Forest Levels

The Canopy • Dense layer of trees • Trees block light to the understory • Trees grow to heights of up to 150 ft. • A few trees grow above the canopy to form the emergent layer.

Plants of the Canopy Bromeliads channel their water to their center. What is this? Here’s a hint: It is used to make something you will find in your Easter basket . These pods grow right from the trunk of the tree.

Animals of the Canopy • • The loudest animal in the rainforest is the Howler Monkey. Click on the monkey to hear it. • The toucan has a hollow beak that scares off potential predators.

The Understory

The Understory • Very hot, humid and still. • Below the canopy and above the floor. • Vines are everywhere, but don’t confuse them with one of the many snakes! • Animals are everywhere. • Bats, anacondas and even butterflies live here. • Monkeys and birds may pass through looking for food.

Animals of the Understory • Vampire Bat Poison Dart Frog Click on the poison dart frog to hear the sounds it makes. • Blue Morpho Butterfly

The Forest Floor • Covered with leaves and insects. • Insects and the animals that eat them live here.

Animals of the Forest Floor Leafcutter ants which are eaten by anteaters. But the anteater is hunted by the Jaguar.

Sounds of the Rainforest What do you hear?

Tropical Rain Forest Resources • • Enchanted Learning Rain Forest Education Rain Forest Facts South American Rain Forest Animal Reports