Tropical Rainforest

The Tropical Ecology Web Site

The Tropical Rainforest in Suriname

River Amazon, Brazil

The Victoria amazonica is the largest water lily in the world. Located in the Amazon, this lily grows leaves that range from about 0.5 to 2 m (2 to 6 ft) in diameter. The lilies provide food for fish and wildlife in the Amazon region, but can also cause drainage problems because of their large size.

Will and Deni McIntyre/ALLSTOCK, INC.

Rainforest, Costa Rico

Much of the soil in which rainforests develop is poor, but nutrient paucity is overcome by nutrient recycling.

Michael Fogden/Animals Animals

Fern

American Fern Society

Emilio Fernandez

Fernando Rey

Introduction to the Psilotales

Spanish Moss

Spanish moss, an epiphyte (air plant), does not root in soil, but instead attaches itself to trees. The plant hangs from the branches and trunks of oak trees in South America and the southeastern United States. Like other epiphytes, Spanish moss absorbs water directly from the air and secures nutrients from drifting dust particles.

R.F. Head/Animals Animals

Indian Rock Python

The Indian rock python feeds on warm-blooded animals. Like other constrictors, this snake wraps its muscular body tightly around its prey to suffocate it. Indian pythons grow to a length of about 4 m (13 ft), although larger individuals have been reported. Pythons are members of the most primitive group of living snakes; they may hiss, but are essentially deaf and mute.

Dorling Kindersley

Australian Diamond Python

Ball Python (Royal Python) Species Data Sheet)

The diamond python, so named because of the diamond-shaped markings on its back, is native to Australia and New Guinea. Its coloration is usually yellow and black but it is also known in a variety of other colours. It grows to a length of up to 4.2 m (14 ft).

Kenneth W. Fink/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Developing army ant larvae (in white) are transported beneath the bodies of worker ants while in transit to a new bivouac, or temporary location. After the larval stage, ants experience a pupal stage before the final metamorphosis into mature adulthood. Male adults generally die after mating, while in some species female ants have been known to survive as long as 15 years.

G. G. Dimijian/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Tapir

tAPir-the Anxiety-Panic internet resource

Tapirs, found in dense forests and swampy areas of Central and South America and Asia, are moderately large mammals, growing to a height of 75 to 120 cm (29 to 47 in) and a weight of 225 to 300 kg (500 to 600 lb). The nocturnal animals feed on leaves, grasses, aquatic vegetation, soft twigs, and fruit, using their short flexible snouts to roll up leaves and other vegetation.

Eyal Bartov/Oxford Scientific Films

Red-Eyed Leaf Frog

The red-eyed leaf frog is one of the many species of rainforest tree frogs that have adhesive toe pads. This modification of the toes of the front and hind legs allows these small frogs to adhere to the undersides of leaves and to crawl up tree trunks and other vertical surfaces with relative ease.

Michael Fogden/Oxford Scientific Films