4.2 Adaptations to the Rainforest

This is the reason why it is ideal for many plants and animals to live in the tropical rainforest.

• High amount of rainfall

• High biodiversity

• Low amount of rainfall

• Low biodiversity

This is one reason why animals must adapt as many animals compete with each other for resources.

• Low biodiversity

• High biodiversity

• Predators

• Hierarchy

This is an animal that eats other animals. This is one reason why animals adapt as they must defend themselves.

• Prey

• Predator

Blending in with the environment through shape and color to hide from predators, e.g. green-eyed tree frog.

• Mimicry

• Bright colours

• Nocturnality

• Camouflage

Imitating or copying another thing, such as leaves, so that the animal can be hidden in plain sight, e.g. katydid.

• Camouflage

• Limited diet

• Reduction of size

• Mimicry

Reducing what they eat which other animals do not have access to, e.g. toucan.

• Limited diet

• Nocturnality

• Reduction of size and stature

• Good climbers

This indicates to predators that the animal is poisonous, e.g. poison dart frog.

• Mimicry

• Poison and bright colours

• Camouflage

• Good climbers

This allows them the to have the speed acquired to hunt food, e.g. jaguar.

• Limited diet

• Good climbers

• Reduction of size and stature

• Mimicry

When animals are active at night so that there is less competition for food, e.g. bearded pig.

• Nocturnality

• Camouflage

• Mimicry

• Good climbers

This allows them to live in the trees where they are far away from activities, e.g. spider monkeys who can use their tail for grip.

• Poison and bright colours

• Good climbers

• Nocturnality

• Camouflage