Like plant life, animal life in rainforests is varied. Insects are by far the most common animal life in rainforests, but mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and bird life also have thousands of species in the forests. Over 50 percent of the world’s animal life lives in rainforests.

Animal Life in Tropical Rainforests

One of the common characteristics of animals in tropical rainforests is their adaptation to life in trees. Many species have tails that are made to grip branches or claws to aid in climbing. Another common characteristic of animals in tropical rainforests is their bright colors. Many of the tropical animals have loud vocalization and live on a diet primarily made up of fruit.

Insects thrive in the wet climate of the rainforest. Mosquitoes thrive in the areas where there is standing, murky waters. Butterflies of all colors and sizes flutter around the flowers and plants. Spiders also thrive in rainforests.

Rainforests are perfect environments for reptiles and amphibians. There are thousands of species of brightly colored frogs and toads, some as small as a dime. Chameleons, lizards, iguanas, and snakes are also found throughout the rainforests. All of these amphibians and reptiles make their homes in the trees. Tourists who are squeamish about snakes, lizards, and frogs will want to keep an eye upward for signs of these animals.

Mammals common to the tropical rainforests include jaguars, bats, kangaroos (in Australia), monkeys and apes, and almost any mammal that lives in trees. Birds are bright and loud, like macaws and toucans, or beautiful and silent, like hummingbirds.

Animal Life in Temperate Rainforests

There is less variety of animal life in temperate rainforests. The animals in temperate rainforests are more suited for mountain life and feed off the plant leaves rather than the fruits. These animals are more muted in their colors, with browns and grays rather than the bright oranges and reds and blues of the tropical rainforest animals.

In the temperate rainforests of North America, tourists will find animals such as black bear, elk, deer, and river otters. Several varieties of salmon run in the rivers. The temperate rainforest is a birdwatchers delight, however, with the many species of woodpecker, jays, robins, and wrens that call the forest home.