Tropical forests of Africa. Animal world of tropical rain forests What animals are found in the tropical forests of Africa

The author, who is in love with his science - zoogeography, claims and proves that it is as interesting as everything connected with the life of animals in freedom. He talks amazingly about biological properties animals that help them to exist in a certain environment, about the connections of fauna with plant formations, about the distribution of animals around the globe and about the factors limiting their resettlement, about the history of the development of fauna on various continents.

Book:

Near the equator, the sun is high in the sky all year round. The air is highly saturated with water vapor rising from the damp earth. The seasons of the year are not expressed. It's swelteringly hot.

In such a climate, lush vegetation develops, the most exotic formation of our earth - the tropical forest. Due to the large role of rain in the formation of this formation, it is also called the rainforest.

There are three large tracts of tropical forests in the world: in South America they occupy almost the entire vast Amazon basin; in Africa they cover the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea; in Asia, tropical forests occupy part of India, the Indochinese Peninsula, the Malay Peninsula, the Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands, the Philippines and the island of New Guinea.

The rainforest seems fabulous to everyone who first gets into it. The abundance of moisture, mineral salts, optimal temperatures create conditions under which plants form dense thickets, and deep shade makes them stretch upwards, towards the light. It is not for nothing that the tropical forest is known for its huge trees, which raise their crowns high.

Extremely characteristic of the tropical forest are epiphytes, which appear on the trunks and branches of other plants. These include both flowering and many species of ferns, mosses and lichens.

Some epiphytes, such as numerous orchids, draw their nutrients exclusively from the air and rainwater.

Under the canopy of the rainforest there are no grasses, only the rotting remains of leaves, branches and huge trunks of dead trees lie here. This is the kingdom of mushrooms. In conditions of heat and moisture, the decomposition and mineralization of the dead remains of plants and animals proceed rapidly, which determines the high rate of the biological cycle of substances.

If in deciduous forest temperate climate, three or four tiers are quite clearly expressed, then here, in tropical thickets, we immediately get lost in a multitude of tiers and semi-tiers.

The richness of the flora is stunning. If five to ten species of trees are found in European mixed forests, then here there are many times more forests per hectare. more species than they grow in general throughout Europe. Here you need to spend a lot of time and effort to find at least two identical trees. In Cameroon, for example, there are about 500 tree species and another 800 shrub species.

The wood of trees of the equatorial forest, where seasons are not expressed, does not have rings and is highly valued in industry, for example, ebony (ebony) and mahogany.

At any time of the year, the rainforest blooms and bears fruit. It happens that on the same tree you can simultaneously see buds, flowers, ovaries and ripening fruits. And even if the harvest from one tree is completely harvested, there will always be another nearby, all hung with fruits.

An equally amazing world of animals lives in this amazing environment. Air saturated with water vapor allows many invertebrates that usually live in aquatic environment, live here on dry land. For example, Ceylon leeches are widely known (Haemadipsa ceylonica), which stick to the leaves of trees and lie in wait for prey (warm-blooded animals), a number of species of crustaceans, centipedes, and even amphipods.

All invertebrates, whose skin is not covered with a dense chitinous shell, feel really good only in the tropical forest, but in another place they are constantly in danger of drying out. Even an experienced zoologist can hardly imagine how many, for example, gastropods live in any corner of the rainforest. Only one family Helicarionidae Africa has more species than all the mollusks in all of Poland. Gastropods live everywhere: underground, in fallen trees, on trunks, among branches and leaves, in various tiers of the forest. Even for laying eggs, they do not descend to the ground. Some gastropods of the Philippines (Helicostyla leucophthalma) They build wonderful nests for their eggs from leaves glued together with mucus.

Here are ideal conditions for the habitat of amphibians. AT tropical forests a huge variety of species of frogs, tree frogs, toads. Many species lay their eggs in the axils of huge leaves, where water accumulates. Other species lay their eggs directly on the leaves, and their tadpoles undergo accelerated development inside the gelatinous shells of the eggs. There are also species in which the eggs are carried by the male or female on the back. This lasts more than ten days, while in our conditions the caviar would dry out in a few hours.

Insects in the rainforest multiply continuously and live here in huge numbers.

Perhaps it is on the fauna of insects that it is most clearly seen how the fauna of the tropical forest differs from the tundra. In the tundra, a few species create a billionth population. In tropical thickets, a large zoomass is created due to the abundance of species. In the rainforest, it is much easier to catch a hundred specimens for a collection. various kinds than the same number of members of the same species. A large number of species and a small number of individuals is the main feature of both the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest. For example, on the island of Barro Colorado in the Panama Canal, as a result of many years of research, about 20 thousand species of insects were discovered on several square kilometers, while in some European country the number of insect species reaches only two to three thousand.

In this variety, the most fantastic appearance animals. Tropical forests are the birthplace of all praying mantises that mimic the body shape of tree knots, butterflies that look like leaves, wasp flies and other artfully camouflaged species.

Wasps and bumblebees form permanent swarms, living in huge and continuously growing nests. Ants and termites are as common in the rainforests as they are in the savannas. There are many predators among ants, for example, the famous Brazilian ants (Ecitony) not building anthills and migrating in a continuous avalanche. On their way, they kill and devour any animal they meet. They can create a kind of nest from own bodies, huddled in a tight ball. In the tropics, anthills or termite mounds are rarely found on the ground. Usually they are located high - in hollows, in twisted leaves and inside the stems of plants.

The year-round abundance of flowers explains why birds live only in the tropics, feeding exclusively on nectar or small insects found in flower calyxes. These are two families: hummingbirds South America (Trochilidae) and African-Asian sunbirds (Nectariniidae). Similarly, butterflies: in the rainforest they fly by the thousands throughout the year.

The continuously ripening fruits serve as food for many groups of frugivorous animals typical of the tropics. Among the birds, the most numerous are parrots, large-billed American toucans (Rhamphastidae) and hornbills (Bucerotidae), which are replacing them in Africa; and in Asia - turaco (Musophagidae) with bright plumage and many others leading a similar lifestyle. Dozens of species of monkeys compete with birds. Fruit eaters spend their lives in the crowns of trees, in the upper tiers of the forest. Large fruit-eating bats are characteristic here. (Megachiroptera)- flying dogs and flying foxes.

In a tropical forest, the higher the tier, the more life.

The arboreal lifestyle is typical of many rainforest animal species. In this regard, small-sized animals predominate here. So, various small monkeys - macaques and monkeys - live in trees, and a large gorilla (up to 200 kilograms in weight) is terrestrial, while chimpanzees, which are of medium size, lead a terrestrial-arboreal lifestyle.

Of the three Brazilian anteaters, the smallest is the pygmy anteater. (Cyclopes didactylus) leads an arboreal lifestyle, and a large anteater (Myrmecophaga jubata)- An exclusively terrestrial animal. The average anteater is tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) awkwardly moves both on the ground and along the branches and gets food here and there.

Everyone knows the tree frog tree frog (Hyla arborea) which, thanks to the suction cups on the fingers, feels confident both on the branches and on the smooth surface of the leaf. In the tropics, tree frogs are extremely widespread. But not only they have suction cups on their fingers. Frogs of three other families also have them: real frogs (Ranidae), copepod frogs (Rhacophoridae) and whistlers (Leptodactylidae). Toes with suction cups also have Indonesian tarsier (Tarsius) tree porcupines and some bats from different parts of the world: from America (Thyroptera), Asia (Tylonycteris) and from Madagascar (Myzopoda). When moving along the branches, the most reliable thing is to grab the branch on both sides like ticks. Monkey palms and feet are good, but not the best device of this type. It is better if half of the fingers wrap around the branch on one side, and the other fingers on the other side. This is how the paws of the African grasping frog are arranged. (Chiromantis), in some lizards and chameleons. Birds climbing trees - woodpeckers, toucans, parrots and some cuckoos - have two fingers turned forward and two back. Tenacious paws and suckers do not exhaust all possible adaptations for moving through trees. american sloth (bradypus)- this is another fruit-and leaf-eating animal that lives in the crowns. Elongated, hook-shaped claws allow him to hang in the thick of the branches without expending effort. Even dead, the sloth does not fall to the ground, and its remains hang on the tree for a long time until the skeleton crumbles into separate bones. Climbing parrots use their large hooked beak to cling to tree branches like a claw.

Many animals use a spirally coiled tail for clinging. Chameleons, some lizards and mammals use this "fifth paw". American monkeys: howler monkeys (Alouatta), capuchins (Cebus) coats (Ateles), woolly monkeys (Lagothrix), as well as American tree porcupines (Erethizontidae) great use of the tail when climbing.

Another way of arboreal movement is used by Asian gibbons. (Hylobatidae). The animal, strongly swinging on one arm, flies forward and clings to another branch, then again swings like a pendulum and again flies to the next branch. These jumps sometimes reach 10–20 meters. With this movement, the legs do not work at all, and therefore in gibbons they are short and weak. But the arms are very long and strong: after all, the longer the arm, the stronger the swing. The palms themselves have undergone corresponding changes: the thumb is small and hardly used, and the remaining four fingers are unusually elongated. These fingers form something like a movable hook, which can catch on a flashing branch when jumping.

Tropical birds are bad flyers. Both parrots and toucans are slow-flyers, but they are able to maneuver well in a complex weave of branches. Nowhere in the world are there so many gliding animals, a kind of "paratroopers", as in the rainforest. There's a flying frog here (Rhacophorus), making multi-meter jumps, during which she soars with the help of huge membranes, a flying lizard (Draco volans) in which the protruding processes of the ribs are connected by skin used for soaring. flying squirrels (Sciuridae), dormouse (Aliridae) and some other animals glide on the skin stretched between the limbs. When jumping, the front legs are stretched far forward and to the sides, and the hind legs are pulled back, while the skin is stretched, increasing the bearing surface. A flying cat also uses gliding flight (Cynocephalus ) - a strange creature, from the order of woolly wings, or kaguans (Dermoptera), somewhat similar to the lemur and partly to the insectivorous mammals of the rainforests of Indochina, Indonesia and the Philippines.

In the dense thickets of the tropical rainforest, orientation becomes a serious problem. Here, in front of a dense wall of trees, vines and other plants, vision is powerless. In the upper tiers of the forest it is difficult to see anything further than five meters away.

The sense of smell doesn't help much either. The air is still day and night. No wind penetrates the jungle, does not carry smells through the forest. However, the smell of smoldering and the heavy, intoxicating aroma of tropical flowers drowns out any other smell. In such conditions, hearing is most suitable. Small groups of animals wandering in the crowns owe only to hearing that they do not lose each other. Travelers often mention noisy flocks of parrots and monkeys. They are really very noisy, they constantly call to each other, like children picking berries and mushrooms in the forest. But all solitary animals are silent, silent and listen to see if the enemy is approaching. And the enemy silently circles around and listens to see if possible prey rustles somewhere.

Due to the dense tree canopy, the ground is not visible from above; in addition, the earth does not heat up much, and there are no updrafts in the air, so soaring birds of prey are not found in the rainforest.

A huge number of animals inhabit the upper tiers of the rainforest, but at the very "bottom" of it, on earth, life is also in full swing. In addition to numerous invertebrates, ungulates, predators and large anthropoid monkeys live here. It is in vain to look for large deer with spreading horns here: it would simply be difficult for them to move around in the thicket. In forest tropical deer, the antlers are small, often not branched at all. Most antelopes are also small, about the size of a chamois or hare. An example is the pygmy antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) about 30 centimeters high at the withers, antelopes from the genus Cephalophus, or red chestnut, with light stripes and spots, the size of a chamois bushbuck antelope (Tragelaphus scriptus). Of the large ungulates in the African forest, the bongo antelope lives (Boocercus eurycerus) reddish-chestnut in color, with thin rare vertical stripes and, of course, with small horns.

Or finally okapi Okapia johnstoni- a species first discovered only in 1901 and more or less studied twenty years later. This animal has been a kind of symbol of the secrets of Africa for many years. It is a distant relative of the giraffe, about the size of a donkey, with a body taller in front than behind, laterally compressed, with a red chestnut body, with black and white striped legs.

Please note: again a reddish chestnut color with white spots and stripes. This type of protective coloring makes sense only in the depths of the forest, where against the reddish background of decaying vegetation, sunlight breaking through the dense arch of the tropical forest lays down with white spots and gliding highlights. All these relatively large animals lead a nocturnal, hidden lifestyle. If we meet two animals here at the same time, then this is either a couple, or a mother with a baby. Forest ungulates do not have a herd life. And this is understandable: nothing can be seen in the forest at twenty paces, and herding is losing its protective biological significance.

The elephant is the only animal that passes through the thicket, leaving behind a corridor cut through the living body of the forest. Where a herd of elephants feeds, there is a vast trampled space, like an arena under the arch of untouched huge trees.

Kaffir buffalo lives in the forests of Africa (Syncerus caffer), in Asia - gaur (Bibos gaurus). Both of these species willingly use the paths laid by elephants.

The influence of the rainforest also affected the appearance of elephants and buffaloes. The forest elephant subspecies is undeniably smaller than the savannah elephants, and the forest buffalo is not only smaller than the savannah buffalo, but its horns are disproportionately small.

Just as in the savannah lions are constantly followed by jackals feeding on the remains of lion prey, in the rainforest many animals accompany elephants. Different types boars of the genus Hylochoerus and Potamochoerus perfectly adapted to life in the forest. Low, narrow, with a wedge-shaped forehead, with a powerful snout, they feel great in dense thickets. In places where elephants have knocked down trees or uprooted them, wild boars find edible roots and rhizomes, insect larvae, etc. When the feeding place of elephants is completely dug up by wild boars, herds of forest baboons appear on it. Among them are mandrills-sphinxes (Mandrillus sphinx) with brightly colored snouts and buttocks and smaller black-nosed mandrills (M. leucophaeus) that dig into dug up ground in search of food.

Gorillas and chimpanzees make up a special group of higher anthropoid apes here. The former lead a terrestrial, the latter a terrestrial-arboreal way of life. They move easily in the rainforest, roaming in small groups and feeding on a variety of plant and animal foods.

Trainers get acquainted with brief encyclopedic information, answer questions, test their erudition. The lesson was developed on the basis of a textbook for additional education by Paul Dowswell "Unknown About the Known". Recommended by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Federal State educational standard.

Lesson type: combined

Target: development of erudition, cognitive and creativity students; formation of the ability to search for information to answer the questions posed.

Tasks:

Educational: the formation of a cognitive culture, mastered in the process of educational activities, and aesthetic culture as an ability to have an emotional and valuable attitude towards objects of wildlife.

Developing: development of cognitive motives aimed at obtaining new knowledge about wildlife; cognitive qualities of the individual associated with the assimilation of the basics scientific knowledge, mastering the methods of studying nature, the formation of intellectual skills;

Educational: orientation in the system of moral norms and values: recognition high value life in all its manifestations, health of one's own and other people; ecological consciousness; education of love for nature;

Personal: understanding of responsibility for the quality of acquired knowledge; understanding the value of an adequate assessment of one's own achievements and capabilities;

cognitive: the ability to analyze and evaluate the impact of factors environment, risk factors for health, the consequences of human activities in ecosystems, the impact of one's own actions on living organisms and ecosystems; focus on continuous development and self-development; the ability to work with various sources of information, convert it from one form to another, compare and analyze information, draw conclusions, prepare messages and presentations.

Regulatory: the ability to organize independently the execution of tasks, evaluate the correctness of the work, reflection of their activities.

Communicative: the formation of communicative competence in communication and cooperation with peers, understanding the characteristics of gender socialization in adolescence, socially useful, educational, research, creative and other activities.

Technology: Health saving, problematic, developmental education, group activities

Lesson progress

Learning new material (teacher's story with elements of conversation)

Questions and tasks for discussion

What does a tropical forest look like? (layers of the rainforest)

Who lives on the upper "floors"?

Are sloths really lazy?

Who lives on the bottom "floor"?

How do animals adapt to life in trees?

How do animals manage to fly without wings?

Why is it so noisy in the rainforests?

Did you know it?

Animalworldtropicalforests

Presentation Animalworldtropicalforests

What does a tropical forest look like?

Rainforests located in the tropical, equatorial and subequatorial belts between 25 ° N.L. and 30 ° S, as if "surrounding" the surface of the Earth along the equator. Tropical forests are only torn apart by oceans and mountains.

The vegetation of tropical forests is very diverse, depending mainly on the amount of precipitation and its distribution over the seasons. With abundant (more than 2000 mm), and relatively uniform distribution develop humid tropical evergreen forests.

Tropical forest classification

tropical rainforest, tropical rain forest these are forests with specific biomes located in equatorial (moist equatorial forest), subequatorial and humid tropical areas with a very humid climate (2000-7000 mm of precipitation per year).

Tropical rainforests are rich in biodiversity. This is the most livable natural area. lives here a large number of own, including endemic species of animals and plants, as well as migratory animals. Tropical rainforests are home to two-thirds of all animal and plant species on the planet. It is assumed that millions of species of animals and plants have not yet been described.

These forests are sometimes referred to as "jewels of the earth" and "the largest pharmacy in the world”, as a large number of natural medicinal remedies have been found here. They are also called the "lungs of the Earth", but this statement is debatable because it has no scientific justification, since these forests either do not produce oxygen at all, or produce very little of it.

Understorey formation in tropical forests is severely limited in many places due to lack of sunlight in the lower layer. This allows man and animals to move through the forest. If for any reason the leaf canopy is absent or weakened, the lower tier is quickly covered with a dense thicket of vines, shrubs and small trees- this formation is called the jungle.

The largest areas of tropical rainforests are found in the Amazon basin (“Amazonian rainforests”), in Nicaragua, in the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula (Guatemala, Belize), in most of Central America (where they are called “selva”), in equatorial Africa from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in many parts of Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Indonesia and New Guinea, in the Australian state of Queensland.

Fortropical rainforestscharacteristic:

variety of flora

the presence of 4-5 tree tiers, the absence of shrubs, a large number of vines

the predominance of evergreen trees with large evergreen leaves, poorly developed bark, buds that are not protected by kidney scales, in monsoon forests- deciduous trees;

the formation of flowers and then fruits directly on the trunks and thick branches

Trees in tropical rainforests share several characteristics that are not seen in plants in less humid climates.

The base of the trunk in many species has wide, woody ledges. Previously it was assumed that these ledges help the tree to maintain balance, but now it is believed that water with dissolved nutrients flows down these ledges to the roots of the tree. Wide leaves of trees, shrubs and grasses of the lower tiers of the forest are characteristic. The wide leaves help the plants absorb sunlight better under the tree edges of the forest, and they are protected from the wind from above.

Tall young trees that have not yet reached the topstory also have broader foliage, which then decreases with height. The leaves of the upper tier, which form the canopy, are usually smaller and heavily cut to reduce wind pressure. On the lower floors, the leaves are often tapered at the ends so that this allows the water to drain quickly and prevents microbes and moss from growing on them that destroy the leaves.

The tops of the trees are often very well interconnected with creeper or epiphytic plants attached to them.

The trees of the humid tropical forest are characterized by unusually thin (1-2 mm) tree bark, sometimes covered with sharp thorns or thorns, the presence of flowers and fruits growing directly on tree trunks, a wide variety of juicy fruits that attract birds and mammals.

Insects are very abundant in tropical rainforests, especially butterflies (one of the richest fauna in the world) and beetles, and fish are abundant in rivers (about 2000 species, approximately one third of the world's freshwater fauna).

Tropical rainforest levels (tiers)

The rainforest is divided into four main levels, each of which has its own characteristics, has a different flora and fauna.

The topmost level

This layer consists of a small number of very tall trees rising above the forest canopy, reaching a height of 45-55 meters (rare species reach 60-70 meters). Most often the trees are evergreen, but some shed their foliage during the dry season. Such trees must withstand harsh temperatures and strong winds. This level is inhabited by eagles, bats, some species of monkeys and butterflies.

Crown level (forest canopy)

The crown level is formed by the majority of tall trees, usually 30-45 meters high. This is the densest layer known in all terrestrial biodiversity, with neighboring trees forming a more or less continuous layer of foliage.

True exploration of this layer only began in the 1980s, when scientists developed methods to reach the forest canopy, such as shooting ropes at the treetops with crossbows. The study of the forest canopy is still at an early stage. Other research methods include balloon or aircraft travel. The science of access to the tops of trees is called dendronautics.

Intermediate level

Between the forest canopy and the forest floor there is another level called the undergrowth. It is home to a number of birds, snakes and lizards.. Insect life at this level is also very extensive. The leaves in this tier are much wider than at crown level.

forest floor

Away from river banks, swamps, and open spaces where dense, low-growing vegetation grows, the forest floor is relatively free of plants. Rotting plants and animal remains can be seen on this level, quickly disappearing due to the warm, humid climate for rapid decomposition.

Selva is formed on vast lowland areas of land under conditions of constant freshwater moisture, as a result of which the soil of the selva is extremely poor in minerals washed out by tropical rains. The selva is often swampy.

Flora and fauna of the selva is a riot of colors and a variety of species of plants, birds and mammals.

mangrove plants live in coastal sedimentary environments where fine sediments, often with a high organic content, accumulate in places protected from wave energy.

Mangroves are a habitat for wild animals, including a number of commercial species fish and crustaceans, while at least in some cases the export of mangrove carbon is important in the coastal food web.

Foggy forest formed by trees with abundant vines, with a dense cover of epiphytic mosses.

Tree ferns, magnolia, camellia are characteristic, the forest may also include non-tropical vegetation.

Fauna of the rainforest

Because rainforests tend to be very hot and humid, they are home to some of the largest trees and plants in the world. There is so much food and opportunities to hide from enemies that many more animals live in these forests than in other parts of the Earth.

Most of the animals depicted here live in South America, where the world's largest forest area is located. Tropical forests are shown on the map in white.

Occupying only 6% of the land, the jungle is home to 50% of the species of living beings. Many of them are archaic, ancient. The constant heat and humidity of the jungle have allowed them to survive to this day.

The crowns of the tropics are so tightly closed that those living here (1. hornbills, 2.turaco, 3.toucans) almost forgot how to fly. But they are excellent at jumping and climbing branches. It is easy to get lost in the intricacies of trunks and roots. Only one expedition in 2007 to the island of Borneo gave the world 123 previously unknown tropical animals.

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Inhabitants of the forest floor

Litter is called the lower tier of the tropics. There are fallen leaves and branches. The overgrowth blocks the light. Therefore, only 2% of the total amount of sunlight illuminates the litter. This limits the vegetation. Only shade-tolerant representatives of the flora survive in the litter. Some plants reach for the light, climbing tree trunks like vines.

There are such creepers among animal bedding. Many of them are large and with long necks. This allows, so to speak, to come out of the shadows. The rest of the inhabitants of the lower tier of the tropics do not need lighting, but depend only on heat. We are talking about snakes, frogs, insects and inhabitants of the soil.

Tapir

Looks like a pig with a long trunk. In fact, the tapir is a relative of rhinos and horses. Together with the trunk, the length of the body of the animal is about 2 meters. Tapirs weigh about 3 centners, are found in Asia and America.

Leading a nocturnal lifestyle, pig-like creatures disguised themselves. Black and white coloring makes tapirs invisible in the dark jungle floor, illuminated by the moon.

Animals that live in the rainforest acquired long nose, in order to hide from the heat and predators underwater. When diving, tapirs leave the tip of the "trunk" on the surface. It serves as a breathing tube.

Cuban flint tooth

It was declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. At the beginning of the 21st century, the animal was found again. The insectivore is a relict species. Outwardly, its representatives are something between a hedgehog, a rat and a shrew. Living in the mountain tropics of Cuba, the sand tooth is the largest of the insectivores. The body length of the animal is 35 centimeters. The shaletooth weighs about a kilogram.

These are flightless birds. Awarded the most dangerous on earth. In Australia, 1-2 people die annually from the powerful paws and clawed wings of cassowaries. How can feathered wings be clawed?

The fact is that the flying "devices" of the cassowaries have been transformed into such rudiments. On their central finger is a sharp claw. Its size and strength are frightening, given the bird's 500-kilogram weight and 2-meter height.

Okapi

Found in the African tropics. In the appearance of the animal, the signs of a giraffe and a zebra are combined. The body structure and coloration are borrowed from the latter. Black and white stripes adorn the legs of the okapi. The rest of the body is brown. Head and neck like those of a giraffe. According to the genome, it is his relative that the okapi is. Otherwise, representatives of the species are called forest giraffes.

The okapi's neck is shorter than that of savannah giraffes. But the animal has a long tongue. It is elongated by 35 centimeters, bluish in color. The organ allows the okapi to reach the foliage and clean the eyes and ears.

western gorilla

Among primates, it is the largest, lives in the jungles of the center of Africa. The DNA of an animal is almost 96% identical to that of a human. This applies to both lowland and mountain gorillas. The latter live in the tropics. They are few in number. Less than 700 individuals remain in nature.

There are about 100,000 lowland gorillas. Another 4,000 are kept in zoos. There are no mountain gorillas in captivity.

Knowing how to walk on their hind legs, gorillas prefer to move on 4 at the same time. In this case, the animals put their hands sideways, leaning on the back of their fingers. Monkeys need to keep the skin of their palms thin and delicate. This is necessary for the proper sensitivity of the brushes, subtle manipulations with them.

Sumatran rhinoceros

Among the rhinos, he is the smallest. There are few large animals in the jungle. Firstly, it is easier for small creatures to make their way through the thickets. Secondly, the diversity of tropical species should fit into fertile, but small areas.

Among the rhinos, the Sumatran is also the most ancient and rare. Animal life in the rainforest limited to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Here the rhinoceroses reach one and a half meters in height and 2.5 in length. One individual weighs about 1300 kilograms.

undergrowth animals

The undergrowth is just above the litter, already receives 5% of the sun's rays. In order to capture them, plants grow wide leaf plates. Their area allows you to capture the maximum light. In height, representatives of the flora of the undergrowth do not exceed 3 meters. Accordingly, the tier itself is the same minus half a meter from the ground.

They fall on the floor. rainforest animals in the undergrowth are often medium-sized, sometimes medium-sized. The tier is inhabited by mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Jaguar

Lives in the tropics of America. The weight of the animal is 80-130 kilograms. It is the largest cat in America. The color of each individual is unique, like human fingerprints. Spots on the skins of predators are compared with them. Jaguars- excellent swimmers. On water, cats prefer to move by clinging to logs. On land, jaguars are also associated with trees. On them, cats drag prey, hiding in the branches of other contenders for meat.

Binturong

Belongs to the civet family. Outwardly, the binturong is something between a cat and a raccoon. The relatives of the animal are genets and lisangs. Like them, the binturong is a predator. However, the touching appearance, as it were, discards the fear of the animal.

Binturong lives in the tropics of Asia. Most of all the Indian population. When dividing territories, binturongs mark their possessions with a liquid that smells like popcorn.

South American nosoha

Represents raccoons. The animal has a long and mobile nose. He, like the head of the beast, is narrow. The name of the species is associated with the nose as a distinguishing feature. You can meet its representatives in the tropics of South America.

There, noses, like jaguars, climb trees perfectly. The noses have short, but flexible and mobile paws with tenacious claws. The structure of the limbs allows animals to descend from trees both forward backwards and muzzle.

Nosuha climbs trees for fruit and hiding from danger. In her absence, the beast is not averse to walking on the jungle floor. By digging with its clawed paws, nosukha finds reptiles and insects. Being omnivorous, the animal preys on them.

dart frog

Among the existing reptiles, poison dart frogs are the brightest. On the photo rainforest animals distinguished by coloring in tones of indigo. There are also turquoise and blue-black colors. They make a frog stand out against the background for a reason. surrounding nature like a tropical bud.

A dart frog has no need to disguise itself. Among reptiles, the animal produces the most powerful poison. The frog is not touched, even when seen in front of one's nose. More often, predators and people bounce off the blue beauty, fearing poison. One frog shot is enough to kill 10 people. There is no antidote.

The venom of the poison dart frog contains 100 substances of non-protein nature. It is believed that the frog gets them by processing the tropical ants that it feeds on. When dart frogs are kept in captivity on other food, they become harmless, non-poisonous.

common boa constrictor

Similar to a python, but slimmer. The boa constrictor also does not have a supraorbital bone. Finding out what animals live in the rainforest, it is important to "discard" the Argentine boa constrictor. He settles in arid and desert places. Other subspecies live in the tropics.

Some snakes hunt in the water. In America, where rivers and lakes are occupied by anacondas, boas feed on the ground and trees.

An ordinary boa constrictor in the tropics often replaces a cat. The inhabitants of the jungle settlements lure snakes, allowing them to live in barns and warehouses. There boas catch mice. Therefore, the snake is considered partially domesticated.

flying dragon

This is a lizard with skin outgrowths on the sides. They open when the animal jumps from the tree like wings. They are not attached to the paws. Moveable, rigid ribs plow open the folds.

A flying dragon descends into the jungle floor only to lay eggs. They are usually from 1 to 4 ex. Lizards bury their eggs in fallen leaves or soil.

Rainforest canopy dwellers

A tropical canopy is otherwise called a canopy. It is made up of tall, broad-leaved trees. Their crowns form a kind of roof over the litter and undergrowth. The height of the canopy is 35-40 meters. Many birds and arthropods hide in the crowns of trees. The last in the canopy of the tropics are 20 million species. There are fewer reptiles, invertebrates and mammals at altitude.

kinkajou

Represents the raccoon family. Lives kinkazhu in America. In the tropics, the animal settles in the crowns of trees. On their branches, the kinkajou moves, clinging to the long tail.

Despite the small similarity and lack of relationship with clubfoot, animals are called tree bears. It's a matter of diet. Kinkajou loves honey. His animal extracts with the help of the tongue. In length, it reaches 13 centimeters, allowing you to climb into the hive.

Malayan bear

Among the bears, he is the only one who almost never descends to the ground, lives in trees. The Malayan clubfoot is also the smallest in its squadron. The fur of the bear is shorter than that of other Potapyches. Otherwise, representatives of the Malay species would not be able to live in the tropics of Asia.

Among bears, the Malay clubfoot has the longest tongue. It reaches 25 centimeters. The claws of the animal are also the longest. How else to climb trees?

Jaco

One of the smartest parrots. Like a real intellectual, Zhako is modestly “dressed”. The plumage of the bird is grey. Only on the tail there are red feathers. Their shade is not flashy, but rather cherry. You can see birds in the jungle Africa. rainforest animals Continents are successfully kept in captivity and often become news heroes.

So, a Jaco nicknamed Baby from the USA remembered the names of the robbers who entered his owner's apartment. Birds gave out the data of the thieves to the police. Jaco is listed in the Guinness Book of Records, knowing about 500 words in different languages. The bird spoke in connected sentences.

coata

Otherwise known as the spider monkey. The animal has a tiny head, a massive body against its background, and long, thin limbs. When the koata stretches them between the branches, it seems like a spider waiting for prey. The black, shiny coat of the animal is also confusing, like fluff on the bodies of arthropods. The koata lives in South and Central America. With a 60-cm length of the monkey's body, its length

tail is 90 centimeters.

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rainbow toucan

Large bird up to 53 cm long. With a massive and long beak, the toucan reaches the fruits on thin branches. Sit on them a bird, the shoots will not stand. The toucan weighs about 400 grams. The beak of the animal is painted in green, blue, orange, yellow, red. The body is mostly black, but there is an extensive lemon-colored patch on the head with a red scarlet edging around the neck. Even the irises of the toucan's eyes are colored, turquoise. It becomes clear why the species is called iridescent. The colorful appearance of the toucan is combined with the fruity variety of the tropics. However, a bird can also feast on protein food, catching insects, tree frogs. Sometimes toucans feed on the chicks of other birds.

Golden Helmet Kalao

The largest among the birds of the tropics of Africa. The bird weighs approximately 2 kilograms. The animal is named gold-helmeted due to the feathers sticking out on its head. They are, as it were, raised, forming a kind of armor from the times of the Roman Empire. The color of the feathers is golden.

There is a patch of bare skin on the neck of the kalao. It is slightly saggy and wrinkled, like a vulture or a turkey. Kalao is also distinguished by a massive beak. No wonder the bird belongs to the family of hornbills.

three-toed sloth

What animals are in the rainforest the slowest? The answer is obvious. On land, sloths move with maximum speed 16 meters hour. Most of the time the animals spend on the branches of African jungle trees. There the sloths hang upside down. Most of the time the animals sleep, and the rest is slowly chewing on the leaves.

Sloths not only feed on vegetation, but are also covered in it. Animal fur is covered with microscopic algae. Therefore, the color of sloths is greenish. Algae are water plants. From there, the sloths took the "tenants".

Slow mammals are good swimmers. During the rainy season, sloths have to

smelt from tree to tree

Upper tier of the tropics

Tropical rainforest animals upper tier live at a height of 45-55 meters. At this mark, there are single crowns of especially tall trees. Other trunks do not aspire higher, because they are not adapted to stand alone in front of the winds and the heat of the sun.

Some birds, mammals, and bats also fight them. The choice is due either to the proximity of the food base, or the presence of a view of the area, or the removal to a safe distance from predators and dangers.

crowned eagle

Among the birds of prey, it is the largest. The body length of the animal exceeds a meter. The wingspan of a crowned eagle is more than 200 centimeters. A distinctive feature of the species is the crest on the head. In moments of danger or fighting spirit, the feathers rise, forming a kind of crown, crown.

The crowned eagle lives in the jungles of Africa. You rarely see birds alone. Crowned birds live in pairs. Even their possessions animals fly around together. "Put on" the eagles, by the way, is about 16 square kilometers.

Giant flying fox

The muzzle of this bat is similar to a fox. Hence the name of the animal. His fur, by the way, is reddish, which also reminds of foxes. Soaring in the sky, the flyer opens its wings by 170 centimeters. The giant fox weighs over a kilogram.

There are giant flying foxes in Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Bats live in flocks. Flying 50-100 individuals, foxes terrify tourists.

royal colobus

Belongs to the monkey family. It differs from other colobuses by white markings on the chest, tail, and cheeks. The monkey lives in the jungles of Africa, growing up to 60-70 centimeters in length, excluding the tail. He is 80 cm.

Colobus rarely descend to the ground. Monkeys spend most of their lives on

treetops where they feed on fruits.

Conclusion:

Fauna of the rainforest- this is a fierce competition not only for space, light, but also food. Therefore, it is in the jungle that there are species that dine on what the inhabitants of other places do not even consider food.

How about eucalyptus leaves, for example? Nutrients they have a minimum, and there are enough poisons, and only koalas have learned to neutralize them. So the animals of the species have provided themselves with an abundance of food, for which one does not have to fight.

African equatorial forests occupy the plains and mountains. Mountain forests are shrouded in clouds that maintain high humidity. Therefore, they are also called cloud forests. In the tropical forests of Africa live the world's largest monkeys - gorillas. There are only two populations of gorillas: the lowland, or land, gorillas that live in the western lowland forests, and the mountain gorillas that inhabit the eastern montane forests. Gorillas belong to the great apes. These are huge animals, the males of which reach 2 m in height and can weigh up to 300 kg. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are peaceful vegetarians. Gorillas live in family groups of 5 to 15 individuals: several females and young ones. The head of the group is an adult male (he can be recognized by his silvery back). The leader takes care of the whole pack, and if for some reason he dies, then the rest of the group may die with him, having lost his protection and care. Gorillas are too heavy to easily climb trees, so they lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Every evening they settle down for the night, building nests on the branches of fairly strong trees or on the ground. Gorillas are not aggressive, but in case of danger they can attack the offender. Most often, they scare off the attacker without engaging in a fight, roar, beat their chests with their fists and break branches with a loud crack. In the same way, young males sort things out among themselves.

The fauna of the African rainforests differs from the savannas in the absence large predators. (The exception is the leopard). The inhabitants of the rainforests are much smaller than their relatives living in the savannahs. So, for example, duikers are slightly larger than a hare, a pygmy hippopotamus is two times smaller than usual, and okapi, a relative of giraffes, is significantly inferior to them in height.

The okapi, which lives only in forests, does not need a long neck, like a giraffe, because it can pluck shoots, leaves and anodes not high from the ground. The coloring of the okapi also bears little resemblance to its relative, oh big ears gives it a somewhat comical look, but helps to better capture forest sounds. Interestingly, the okapi tongue is so long that it can reach the ear.

In the dense thickets along the banks of the rivers live miniature African deer, the size of a domestic cat. They are relatives of deer, cats do not have horns and lead a completely different lifestyle. These animals live near the water and are excellent swimmers. Sensing danger, the deer runs to the water and dives, holding its breath for a long time. He moves along the bottom of the river and emerges in a safe place, thus leaving the pursuer. This unusual creature feeds not only on plants, but also on small fish, crabs, insects and even small mammals. Deer are active at night, and during the day they climb low on the trees along the vines, like a ladder. Deer are in the trees and hide during the day.

Several species of hyrax live in Africa. These small (body length up to 60 cm) animals are classified as a separate order of mammals. Outwardly, they resemble marmots or pikas, although scientific studies have revealed their distant relationship with elephants. Tree hyraxes live in the forests, able to climb trees perfectly, jumping from branch to branch in search of food. Damans feed on plants and insects. Tree hyraxes are solitary, unlike mountain hyraxes, which live in small colonies.

In the rainforests you can meet an animal that looks like fir cone. This mammal from the squad of lizards is called the pangolin. Pangolins have much in common with armadillos, since, according to scientists, they descended from the same ancestors. The body of the pangolin is covered with horny scales that protect it from predators: the pangolin, like the armadillo, can roll into a ball and feeds on insects. Tree pangolins have a strong prehensile tail, which they use to cling to branches while climbing trees.

Geneta is a mobile predator, a relative of the civet, mongoose and meerkat. Flexible and agile, the genet easily climbs trees, hunting for birds and small mammals. But genets spend most of their time on the ground. Apes live in African forests. They live in groups of 2 to 20 individuals, headed by an important male. The lifestyle of chimpanzees is generally similar to that of gorillas. However, chimpanzees eat not only plant foods, but also insects and small mammals. Sometimes a group of chimpanzees also attack a fairly large animal. These monkeys even have cases of cannibalism: one monkey can steal a cub from another to eat it. Chimpanzees in their development stand on more than high level than other mammals - they are very smart, communicate with each other using more than 30 different sounds. Apes are the closest relatives of humans in the animal kingdom.

In all tiers of the African rainforest, many birds live, some of which are found only here. In Africa, unlike South America, there are not so many parrots, only a few dozen species. The most famous parrot is a jaco, gray with a red undertail. Small nectary birds occupy the same ecological niche as hummingbirds in South America. Tree hoopoes, hornbills, banana-eaters and Congolese peacocks live here. This rare peacock was discovered by scientists relatively recently: before that, its existence could only be judged by a single feather found by chance.

In terms of the brightness of the color of the bird, banana-eaters, or tura ko, are not inferior to South American parrots. Turaka, which are relatives of cuckoos, live in racks, breaking into pores only during the breeding season. When it rains, banana-eaters can “shed”, as their feathers are covered with a multi-colored powdery substance that dissolves in water. After some time, the brightness of the color is restored. Turaka are poor flyers, preferring to climb trees or glide from branch to branch in search of food, fruit, and small creatures.

At night, bats fly out to hunt, small mammals belonging to the order of bats. Spreading their leathery wings, they fly between trees and catch insects. Well-developed hearing, vision, touch, and, in some species, echolocation, help these animals to navigate perfectly in the dark without bumping into obstacles. During the day, bats rest in caves, rock crevices, as well as in hollows or on tree branches. They cling to branches or stones with their hind legs, hanging upside down, and, having folded their wings, sleep. A wide variety of insects, spiders, centipedes and mollusks live in tree trunks, foliage and forest floor. The most numerous insects are ants, of which there are more than 600 species in the forest of Africa. Insects such as stick insects, praying mantises and beetles live here. The goliath beetle, the largest beetle in the world, lives in these forests and has become very rare due to collecting. The most colorful representatives of insects are butterflies. In the canopy of the forest fat-headed butterflies, pigeons fly, tropical butterflies, as well as African giant sailboats. Centipedes are ancient arthropods that have lived on Earth for over 500 million years. Living in the forest floor, they crawl out during the leader or at night, feeding on the remains of animals.

In the wet litter of the rainforest live legless amphibians - worms. Outwardly, they are similar to earthworms, although they are relatives of frogs, salamanders and newts. The body length of these amphibians can reach 1.1 meters. Worms feed on soil invertebrates: earthworms, centipedes and others.

There are many different animals in the tropical forests, it will not be possible to pay attention to everyone, so we will focus on the most prominent representatives tropical jungle living all over the planet.

Animals of the American tropics

Let's get acquainted with tropical fauna from the forests of South America, here the most strong predator is a jaguar. A yellow large cat in black spots perfectly climbs trees and inspires fear in all local inhabitants. The plains of Patagonia are rich in lakes, on which reeds grow in abundance, it is here that nutria with koipu marsh beavers live. These animals of the tropics eat the succulent roots of aquatic plants, and equip their nests with reeds and reeds.

Tropical monkeys from around the world

African rainforests are rich in monkeys, these are long-tailed small monkeys with greenish fur. Among them, the fingerless species of colobus stands out. These animals do not have a thumb.

The most beautiful representative of these monkeys is the Gverets living in Ethiopia. Direct relatives of African monkeys are macaques that live in tropical Asian forests. Characteristic representatives of the African tropics are baboons, which live mainly in the highlands.

Animals living in the tropics of Madagascar have certain characteristics, for example, lemurs, whose body is covered with thick fur, some of them are happy owners of fluffy tails. Their faces resemble animals rather than monkeys, for this reason they are referred to as semi-monkeys.

But not only near the African continent you can find monkeys, for example, the dense forests of Sumatra are a haven for great ape- an orangutan.

It is covered with red coarse hair, and adult males wear a large beard. The gibbon is very close to orangutans, it reaches more than a meter in length, it is distinguished by long limbs, which serve it for swinging on the branches and allow it to easily jump from one tree to another.

Animals living in the tropics are distinguished by originality and originality, each species is unique.

On Earth, which supports a huge amount of fauna. One of the reasons for such a wide variety is constant heat. Tropical rainforests also contain vast reserves of water (2000 to 7000 mm of precipitation falls annually) and a variety of animal food. Many small animals, including monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards and insects found in the rainforest have never set foot on the ground. They use tall trees and undergrowth to hide from predators and search for food.

Since there is a huge variety of animals (40-75% of the Earth's animal species) competing for food, many species have adapted to eat certain foods that others do not. For example, toucans have a long, large beak. This adaptation allows the bird to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support the weight of the bird. The beak is also used to extract fruit from the tree.

Sloths use behavioral adaptations and camouflage to survive in the rainforest. They move very, very slowly and spend most of their time hanging upside down. Blue-green algae grow on their fur and give sloths their greenish coloration and protect them from predators.

This article examines the structure of the rainforest and some of the animals that live in its layers, from the litter to the top tier.

forest floor

The forest floor is the lowest layer of the rainforest and receives only about 2% of sunlight. Thus, the plants growing here are adapted to low light conditions. Thus, relatively large animals such as okapi, tapirs, Sumatran rhinoceros, etc. live in the lower level of the rainforest. A large number of reptiles, insects, etc. also occur in this layer. Organically, substances (of plant and animal origin) are collected in the forest floor, where they decompose, such as and.

Okapi

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni listen)) is a unique mammal species that is native to the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Although okapi have distinctive zebra-like stripes on their limbs, they are more closely related to giraffes. Okapi are diurnal and solitary in nature. These rainforest animals feed on tree leaves and buds, fruits, ferns, and fungi.

Tapir

Tapir ( Tapirus sp.) are pig-like herbivorous mammals with a short, tenacious muzzle. These rainforest animals are found in the forests of South and Central America, as well as in Southeast Asia.

Sumatran rhinoceros

One of five surviving rhino species, ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) lives in the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra. This is the most small view rhinoceros in the world and has two horns. The Sumatran rhinoceros is on the verge of extinction as poachers actively hunt for its horns, which are used to make traditional medicines in China and Vietnam.

western gorilla

Western gorilla ( gorilla gorilla) is found in the forests of Central Africa. These animals are extremely intelligent and can use tools to obtain large amounts of food. The western gorilla is critically endangered today. Hunting for gorilla meat and cutting them down natural environment habitats are the two main threats to these amazing primates.

Undergrowth

The rainforest undergrowth is between the forest floor and the canopy, and it only receives about 5% of the sunlight. This level is home to a large number of small mammals, birds, reptiles and predators such as the jaguar. Small trees, shrubs and herbs grow in the undergrowth. As a rule, plants at this level rarely reach 3 m in height and usually have broad leaves to provide a large surface area for.

Jaguar

(Panthera onca) is the largest species in the Americas, and the third largest in the world after and. The jaguar prefers to live in tropical forests and is distributed from Central America to Argentina and Paraguay. It is very similar to a leopard, but more muscular and bigger size. The jaguar is a solitary superpredator in which it dwells.

Dart frogs

About three species of frogs from the poison dart frog family are deadly. The terrible leaf climber is considered the most dangerous among the three species and one of the most poisonous animals on Earth. These frogs are painted in bright colors including gold, red, green, blue and yellow to protect them from predators. This feature is known as aposematic coloration.

South American nosoha

Also known as coati ( Nasua nasua), this animal lives in the tropical forests of South America. Most of the range is in the lowlands east of the Andes. It is a diurnal animal that lives both on the ground and in trees. The diet includes fruits, other small animals and bird eggs.

common boa constrictor

common boa constrictor ( Boa constrictor) - a massive snake that is found in forests throughout America, as well as on the islands caribbean. Although boas live in a wide variety of places, they prefer rainforests due to high humidity and suitable temperatures. In addition, rainforests provide ample cover and many food sources for these snakes.

forest canopy

The forest canopy (or canopy) is the most distinctive level of the rainforest, forming a roof over the undergrowth and forest floor. The canopy contains most of the largest trees in the rainforest, growing up to 30-45m in height. Broad-leaved evergreen trees dominate the canopy, making it the densest part of the rainforest. It is home to over 20 million species and a large number of birds, as well as mammals, invertebrates and reptiles.

Jaco

Jaco, or African gray parrots ( Psittacus erithacus) are medium-sized, gray-black birds common in equatorial Africa. Birds are currently classified as Near Threatened and number between 120,100 and 259,000.

rainbow toucan

Rainbow Toucan ( Ramphastos sulfatus) common in tropical forests Latin America. In this environment, it settles in tree holes, often with other toucans. Overcrowded roosting sites force toucans to tuck their beaks and tails under their bodies to save space.

coats

Koats are a genus belonging to the family of spider monkeys. They live in the tropical forests of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil. All seven coat species are endangered to some extent. These primates live in large groups of about 35 and split into smaller groups to forage during the day.

Three-toed sloths

Three-toed sloths are a family of arboreal mammals found in South and Central America. These rainforest animals are so named because of their slow gait, which is an adaptation to conserve energy. Sloths have the body size of a small dog or a large cat, and have three clawed toes on each limb.

Gold-helmed kalao

Golden Helmet Kalao ( Ceratogymna elata) lives in the rainforests of West Africa. It is one of the largest birds in this environment and lives in forest canopies and rarely feeds on the ground. Birds of this species live in small family groups consisting of an adult pair and several chicks.

kinkajou

The kinkajou is one of the rainforest animals that is mistaken for a monkey or a ferret. The kinkajou is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. These nocturnal animals are arboreal and have an omnivorous diet. Unfortunately, they are hunted for their valuable wool.

Upper tier

This rainforest level has several giant trees reaching a height of about 45-55 m or even higher. Thus, these trees rise above the canopy. They are well adapted to withstand strong winds and high temperatures over the canopy. When such trees die, holes form in the canopy, allowing sunlight to reach the lower layers of the rainforest.

crowned eagle

crowned eagle ( Stephanoaetus coronatus) is a massive and fierce predatory predator, common in the upper tier of tropical forests. The eagle primarily feeds on mammals, including small ungulates, small primates, birds, and lizards. It is one of the largest eagles in Africa, but is now classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to large-scale habitat destruction.

royal colobus

Royal Colobus ( Colobus polykomos) is one of the rainforest animals that is found in the African rainforests in countries such as Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast. The king colobus lives in the upper tier of the forest, but feeds, usually on the ground 3 to 4 females and 1 to 3 males form together one social group.

Giant flying fox

Giant flying fox ( Pteropus vampyrus) is one of largest species bats in the world. It lives in tropical forests, where it feeds exclusively on nectar, fruits and flowers. Although these bats do not have the ability to echolocate, they use their keen eyesight to locate food sources.

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