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TRANSCRIPT
The largest rainforests located in:•Amazon River Basin (South America)•Congo River Basin (western Africa) •throughout southeast Asia.
•Rainforests are found all over the world•Most found in tropics
Location
http://kids.mongabay.com/images/World_map-countries.jpg
• There are 4 layers in the rainforest– Emergent Layer– Canopy Layer– Understory Layer– Forest Floor
• Different animals and plants at each level
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38485387@N02/3573173718/
Layers
The Emergent Layer• Tallest layer• More sun than any
other layer• Made up of tall, wide
trees– Trees from 130 to 250
feet tall– Trees have waxy leaves
• Very windy and very warm
Dendrocnide excelsa (Stinging Tree) in Bunya Mountains National Park-Australia
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/3169869483/
The Canopy Layer• Primary layer of
rainforest• Rises to 150 feet• Thick, woody vines
called lianas found in this layer
• Plants grow on the trees– Use water and sun
unique to canopy layer– Orchids, lichens, ferns
mosses
• Receives only 2-5% of the sunlight available to the canopy
• Made up of vines, smaller trees, ferns and palms and small bushes
• Poor soil with few nutrients for plants
The Understory
The Forest Floor• Very dark• Almost no plant life • Decay happens very
quickly• Lots of large tree
roots• Many large animals,
frogs, and insects
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ableman/2184687964/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiccked/131259990/
Sloths are slow movingmammals that live in trees
Jaguars are the largest of South Americas big cats
Rainforest Mammals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prosper973/3262053975/
Poison Dart Frogs• Very brightly colored• Carry eggs and
tadpoles on their backs
• Very poisonous • Eat ants, termites,
and beetles
Rainforest Frogs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zrimshots/137815198/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucumari/1071599095/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelrusinski/235342925/http://www.flickr.com/photos/29714021@N04/2920469244/
Chameleon • 160 different species• Can move eyes
independently• Chameleons change
colors and often blend in
• Eat insects• Live in the trees and
move slowly
Rainforest Reptiles
Toucan• Known for large,
colorful bill• Can eat fruit and
insects• Live in flocks of
multiple toucans• Nest in tree holes• Females lay 2 to 4
eggs each year
Rainforest Birds