The Amazon Rainforest is an incredibly diverse ecosystem that is home to new species of plants, animals, insects, and birds that are discovered every day, and yet there are probably hundreds, if not thousands of species yet to be discovered.

This fact alone draws hundreds of scientists each year to this area of the world to see what they might discover and be able to present to the world of science!

This impressive expanse of ecosystem includes savannas, rainforests, deciduous forests, seasonal forests, and flooded forests. No two ecosystems within the Amazonian rainforest are identical, making this massive area the most diverse and undiscovered in the world.

What is the climate like across this huge expanse of rainforest? It's a hot and humid 79 degrees pretty much throughout the year as an average, but temperatures during the day can reach up to 93 degrees Fahrenheit.

The vegetation in the rainforest produces nearly 20% of the oxygen needed around the world!

The tropical rainforest provides food for the world to eat. The foods we enjoy without giving it much thought include pineapples, coffee, ginger, oranges, bananas, chocolate, black pepper, grapefruit, lemons, nuts, spices, vanilla, mangoes, nuts, tomatoes, and coconuts, to name a few.

Powerful drugs that fight cancer are produced from plants found growing in the rainforest. Many other helpful medicines are produced from Amazon plants as well.

Sustainable resources such as wood, food items, and more are found in the rainforest.

There are nearly 30 million people or 350 indigenous groups of people living within the rainforest of the Amazon. Modern day progress has forced many of these indigenous groups to adopt modern ways of living, including selling items to tourists and abandoning their beloved private way of life.

The shamans or medicine men of these ethnic groups have important knowledge of medicinal plants and foods found in the rainforest. Unless this knowledge is obtained and documented, generations of helpful medicinal information will be hopelessly lost.

The Amazon is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of plant and flower species. Many plants in this area of the world are used as medicine for everything from a headache to a skin rash and much more.

Some of the plant and flower species of the Amazon include: Trillium flower Bromeliad - very popular one is pineapple Water lily Cinchona tree Orchid Coca Castor beans Kapok tree Heliconia Opium poppy FoxgloveFor more please visit our Tropical Rainforest Plants page.

Why are thousands of acres of rainforest being destroyed? The reasons vary, but include the following: Commercial companies exploiting rainforest resources Ranchers clearing land to use for pasture - fires Projects that failed, destroying rainforest in the process such as the flooding caused by failed hydroelectric projects Government subsidies offered to encourage agriculture Poor farmers squatting on public land with the promise of ownership after one year and one day Mining Construction of roads LoggingThe deforestation of the Amazon must be stopped or else the climate of the rainforest and ultimately the world will be adversely affected. The indigenous people of the rainforest have much to lose - their livelihood and perhaps their very lives. Ranchers face the very real possibility of losing all they've worked so hard to acquire. Many of the diverse plant and animal species of the Amazon face extinction if deforestation isn't stopped and we know this will have a global affect, not just a local one. Please see Endangered Species in the Rainforest for more information.

Parts of the Amazon experienced a severe drought in 2005, which resulted in many tree deaths and forest fires. Now, again in 2010, the Amazon is suffering from the worst drought it has seen in 100 years. The rivers are drying up, people are cut off from regular supply deliveries, and the wildlife and plants of the Amazon have been severely affected. It's very possible that this drought will be disastrous if the rainforest of the Amazon doesn't see some significant rainfall very soon.

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The endangered species in the rainforest of Brazil include animals and plants that are threatened to the point of extinction if careful steps aren't taken to protect them and the rainforest that they call home.

The rainforest of Brazil is home to over 1,000 bird species, 23 primate species, and just under 1,200 species of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals. There are over 750 tree types and nearly 1,500 plant species in a mere 2.5 acres of rainforest, so you can imagine how many species are throughout the rainforest!

Animal and plant species that are endangered are ones that are in peril of becoming extinct if measures are not taken to protect them and their habitat. The rainforests of the world and Brazil have so many species of animals and plants; they are most at risk of becoming endangered.

There are many reasons, but the main one is that people have not yet made it a priority to preserve the precious natural resources that exist in the rainforest.

Logging, hunting, oil and gas mining, gold mining, farming, ranching, and settling of the land by humans have all disrupted the natural balance of life.

It's an unfortunate truth: the rainforest is slowly being destroyed for short term economic gains, without a consideration to the long term effects that these actions have on the the land, the animals and the people of the region.

Animals of the Brazilian rainforest that are on the critically endangered list include:

The endangered rainforest animals in the Brazilian rainforest include:

Threatened animal species of the Brazilian rainforest include the magnificent jaguar, colorful toucans and parrots, the unique harpy eagle, sea turtles, brightly colored poison dart frog, and the plump, docile manatee. Additionally, there are at least another 60 species of animals whose habitats and very lives are threatened in the rainforest.

It's difficult to wrap the mind around the sheer numbers of species of plants, trees, and flowering plants that exist in the rainforest, but it's important to understand the role they play in the rainforest and in the world's delicate ecosystems.

Unfortunately, there are several species of flora and fauna that are considered endangered in the rainforests of Brazil. Some of the ones endangered include:

Brazil's Atlantic Forest is also currently at great risk with many of the plant species in this area endangered or threatened. Overall, Brazil's rainforest has at least 45 plant and tree species that are potentially extinct if they're not protected.

The Brazilian rainforest produces 20% of the worlds' oxygen supply. The plants, trees, and flowering plants ensure that the worlds' carbon dioxide is recycled into breathable oxygen.

Imagine if the rainforest was gone? It would affect the world many times over due to less oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the air, creating an even more serious greenhouse effect.

Brazil's rainforest provides a number of food items to the rest of the world, including coffee, bananas, tomatoes, cinnamon, Brazil nuts, black pepper, lemons, oranges, corn, cayenne, grapefruit, yams, sugar cane, pineapples, figs, coffee, squash, potatoes, and chocolate, to name a few.

The Western World alone enjoys over 200 fruits from the Brazilian rainforest. The worlds' diet would suffer greatly if the rainforest is destroyed and is no longer able to produce these foods important for the health of nations around the globe.

Did you know that the ingredients for over 100 prescription drugs are from the Brazilian rainforest?

The tropical plants and trees provide ingredients for nearly 25% of the cancer fighting medicines produced in the Western world. The periwinkle plant, found in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, contains Vincristine, which is known as one of the most powerful and successful drugs used to fight acute childhood leukemia. This plant is only found in the rainforest!

Every animal that becomes extinct affects the food chain and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Typically, the larger animals eat the smaller animals, so if one of the animals in the food chain dies, the others are directly affected. Eventually, the entire food chain or hierarchy is disturbed and destroyed.

Scientists, researchers, conservationists, and many others are actively trying to employ ways of saving the rainforest and the species that live there.

One of the most important solutions to the deforestation and destruction of the Brazilian rainforest, and the reduction of endangered species in the rainforest is a change of consciousness.

The idea that the rainforest is here today to serve us, and that we can simply take whatever we want, regardless of the consequences to those that live there, is a very limited and self centered viewpoint.

We need to consider that it takes nearly a century for a rainforest to return after being stripped or destroyed. It is important that we take a more long-term approach to preserving the rainforest right now.

There are other movements and actions being taken to save the endangered species in the rainforest including:

Generally, the solution to saving the endangered species in the rainforest of Brazil is conservation on all fronts. You can help too by learning about the animals and plants of this area of the world and then researching to see how you can participate physically or financially to help these species survive for many years to come!

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The population of indigenous people of the rainforest in Brazil is estimated at a little over 700,000 people. There are over 200 different tribes with around 170 languages spoken within those tribes that make up the group of people referred to as indigenous to Brazil. Each tribe or culture is distinctly unique with their own customs, way of living, and language.

Some of these groups have relocated from the rural areas to the city, some live within an area they have settled into, some live in areas where they are isolated completely from other people, and still other groups of indigenous people have yet to be contacted by outsiders.

It was estimated by FUNAI in 2007 that there could be as many as 67 uncontacted tribes living in Brazil. FUNAI is the Fundação Nacional do Índio, a Brazilian governmental protection agency that looks out for the interests of the indigenous people of Brazil.

Indigenous people are those people who lived in Brazil even before the Europeans came to the country and essentially took over, which was sometime in 1500. They are uniquely ethnic groups who love living on the wealth of the land without endangering the plants and animals within the land.

Some of the tribes travel whereas others stay put in one area. Unfortunately, when the Europeans came to Brazil, thousands of indigenous people were murdered or died from the sickness brought in by the settlers.

The indigenous people of Brazil have extensive knowledge of how to live within the rainforest and the land. Their food, medicine, and clothing come from the forest.

The medicinal knowledge that the shamans and medicine men have in these tribes is extensive and is believed to be an untapped resource for finding cures to many diseases.

Indigenous people of the rainforest have lived in the lush rainforest for thousands of years and have passed down centuries of knowledge to each generation.

They like living simply and know that the forest provides privacy to live their own way with their own customs and language. They understand how the land provides their needs and they actively pursue what is called a sustainable way of living. They use the food and animals in the rainforest, but don't harm the delicate balance of the ecosystem to live they way they do.

Outside influences such as illness, mining, ranching, and logging are all factors in causing the eventual demise of the indigenous people and their way of living unless active measures are taken to protect them and their culture.

Once outsiders like ranchers, miners, and loggers began making inroads to the rainforest of Brazil, the indigenous people had to move their home to another part of the forest. They were driven off the land or they were taken forcibly as slaves to work the farms or in the gold mines.

How can this happen? These tribes and cultures of the rainforest have never filed deeds for the land on which they live because they believe it doesn't belong to any one person, so outsiders didn't recognize their innate right to live there and keep their land.

Sadly, as a result of outsiders coming into the rainforest and exploiting the rich resources within it, the indigenous people have sometimes been forced to move into the cities. The lifestyle in the city is completely foreign to them and so they end up living in abject poverty, trying to figure out how to live in such different surroundings.

Recent generations of indigenous people are seeing their children leaning toward the Western world's way of living as a result of being forced to live in the cities and outside of the humble means by which they came.

It's a sad fact that as the generations of these people are moving away from the knowledge of their elders and ancestors, that knowledge will soon be lost forever.

They embody the very essence of what it means to cohabitate with the land and the resources of the land without affecting it adversely. They understand how to live simply and comfortably by working the land to grow food, hunt for the purpose of food and for clothing, and they know how to use fruits, plants, and flowering species in the rainforest to cure many diseases and ailments naturally.

Scientists and agronomists are slowly beginning to understand and embrace the fact that the indigenous people living in Brazil's rainforest are not a threat to the rainforest, but rather an incredible asset to the forest and to the world as a whole. Learning from these people could very well be the key to conserving the rainforest's resources, food, and medicines.

The Yanomami tribe resides in a territory along Brazil's border shared with Venezuela. They were given nearly 94,000 square kilometers of land to call home by the government of Brazil around 1992. They live communally with one large house as the center of the village.

There is a central courtyard in which the tribe gathers for religious ceremonies and celebrations. The roof of the central house is so large that each family of the tribe builds a hearth underneath it. They sleep on simple hammocks hung around their hearth.

Unfortunately, despite a mandate to miners to leave the territory, many times they will return and take from the land mercilessly. Sometimes, members of the Yanomami tribe are killed in the process.

This unique culture is in critical danger of becoming extinct as their numbers are continuing to drop each decade. They live peaceably on the Maici River of Brazil and are considered Amazonian Indians.

Unfortunately, researchers have not been able to tap into this tribe's wealth of knowledge.

There is very little written about this tribe of Brazil. They reside in Brazil's Para State. An estimate of their population was taken in 2002 - they numbered around 3,300 at that time. There are photographs of the Kaiapo on the Internet, but nothing comprehensive has been written about their lifestyle or customs.

Many of the indigenous people of the rainforest of Brazil enjoy living simply and privately, which means there is very little written about them. These three tribes of Brazil's rainforest are a minute representation of the hundreds of tribes living within the rainforest of Brazil.

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Deforestation in Brazil has slowed a bit in the last few years, but the devastation that is currently taking place within the rainforest still threatens the well being of the native people, animals, and plant life living in the rainforest.

Deforestation also affects the whole economy of Brazil. Ironically, when areas of the rainforest are destroyed, it is typically so that the economy can grow stronger in some way, to make room for new businesses, ranches, or commercial ventures.

Only in recent years are people coming to understand the major global impact of destroying large areas of the world's forests, which house a huge number of precious species of animal and plant life.

There are so many medicinal herbs and plants in the rainforest that can be used to treat all manner of illness and disease, and that also have many other practical uses as foods and other items.

There are so many sustainable ways to benefit from the treasures of the Amazon without contributing to deforestation in Brazil.

Some of my favorite foods that are originally from the rainforest include: Brazil nuts - yum! Bananas Coffee Chocolate Avocadoes Yerba Mate tea - my favorite, it is energizing without giving you a caffeine buzz Guaraná - don't drink too much of this or you might feel wired! Açai - a healthy fruit that many Brazilians love

In some parts of the Amazon in Brazil, lemons and green peppers grow abundantly, providing health vitamin C in the local diet that what would otherwise be lacking in fruits and vegetables.

When I was visiting there, we ate mostly rice and beans and bananas. I really appreciated the lemons, also called limao which were small, round and with orange colored rinds.

There are also many other treasures from the rainforest that contribute to a healthy and sustainable econonmy.

For example, kapok is a fluffly white fiber that grows from the rainforest kapok tree nut, and can be used to create healthy, hypoallergenic pillows, matresses, upholstery and insulation. Natural rubber which is called Seringueira in Brazil, is used for many commercial purposes and is not being used for healthy latex mattresses.

Patauá palm provides a healthy, protein rich fruit, a delicious oil similar to olive oil, and fibers for weaving and for created thatched roofs in local buildings.

The Babassu palm provides a number of different resources to people in the amazon rainforest such as fruit, oil, flour and fibers for weaving.

Babassu trees are slow growing and they have the potential to help restore degrated rainforest lands, thus contributing to a sustainable and healthy rainforest.

Other products that are grown and harvested in the rainforest include luxurious nut butters that are used for cosmetic purposes such as: Murumuru butter Illipe Butter Cocoa butter

As you can see, there are so many opportunities to find other ways to prosper economically without creating more deforestation in Brazil.

1960s - The devastation of the natural habitat of the rainforest in Brazil began a little over 40 years ago. At that time, during the 1960s, ranchers were trying to make a go of it by clearing rainforest acreage to support cattle.

They raised the cattle and then sold it to make a profit. Also during that time, colonists were entering the rainforest with hopes of making a living with crop farming.

The colonists used the slash and burn method to clear the land and planted crops.

The government of Brazil actually helped the process of deforestation by passing a policy that stated if a person lives on and works a piece of land for a minimum of 366 days, he owns it after 5 years. Thousands of acres were given away to peasant farmers who continually cleared the land to plant crops.

Unfortunately, agriculture is not the most successful venture in the Amazon rainforest because the land will only support and encourage growth for a short time.

The farmers were forced to slash and burn more and more acreage just to have a place to plant their crops. The result of this was the elimination of many acres of rainforest and the destruction of all animal and plant life in these areas, further contributing to the deforestation in Brazil.

1970s - Construction began on the Trans-Amazon Highway, which was intended to connect several areas in Brazil and make getting from one location to another a lot easier.

The funds ran out before it was completed, so part of the highway is simply dirt which turns into a mud pit during the rainy season, ironically making travel more difficult, not easier.

Acres of rainforest were torn down so the road could go through resulting in more deforestation in Brazil.

In conjunction with the highway construction, timber and mining companies were entering the country to find ways of extracting Brazil's natural resources for profit.

Roads are one of the most destructive things to happen to the rainforest and these companies needed a lot of them to move in large equipment and personnel to do their jobs.

1980s - Brazil was in debt to other countries and needed a way to pay off that debt, so they allowed timber companies to come into the country and take timber from the rainforest.

The amount of timber and deforestation taking place during the decade between 1980 and 1990 was unbelievable. Rainforest acreage equal to the acreage found in Wales, Scotland, and England was removed each year!

Up to Current Day - within recent times, Brazil has become one of the largest contributors to the world in the way of soybean supply. The newest soybean to hit the market can flourish in the rainforest!

It is a new variety cleverly developed by scientists in Brazil who are always looking for new ways to boost the economy and take advantage of the opportunities around the country.

Brazil stands to become possibly the world leader in soybean export, but that also depends on how much of the rainforest will have to remain intact in order for these soybeans to grow.

It was mentioned previously that the deforestation in Brazil is rather an ironic situation. Why is that true? Take the soybean exporting for example.

The soybeans can thrive in a rainforest environment, so they must be grown in that environment. But, to plant the soybeans, the land must be cleared and cultivated and roads must be forged so that trucks and farming equipment can reach the fields for harvesting.

On one hand, the soybeans provide income for the country of Brazil, but on the other hand, the rainforest has to be destroyed in order to do that. Do you see the quandary?

It's the same for the other commercial ventures like mining, logging, and farming. It takes the deforestation of the rainforest in order to make money for the country.

The effects of the deforestation in Brazil reach beyond the country's economy. The effect on the animal and plant life in the rainforest is inescapable unless the devastation is stopped completely. Did you know the rainforest is home to tropical animals and plants that don't live anywhere else on the planet?

Nearly half of the country of Brazil is covered in rainforest, so you can imagine how detrimental the clearing and deforestation of the rainforest is to not only the people living in the rainforest, but to the plant life and animals who call the rainforest home as well.

According to an article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the clearing of the forest may be a factor directly affecting the increased number of malaria cases seen in Brazil in 2006.

For whatever reason, one particular species of mosquito frequently carries malaria and that species isn't found deep in the lush jungle of the rainforest, but rather in the cleared areas of the forest.

It's both interesting and scary to think that by taking away the natural habitat of the rainforest, human health could adversely be affected.

Deforestation in Brazil of the Amazon rainforest accounts for nearly 20% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Brazil has taken steps in the last year or two to reduce that number and to have a positive impact on the environment.

Their efforts seem to be taking an effect! Again however, can that remain true for the years to come? Brazil still needs to boost the economy and keep the country moving forward...but is the only way to do that to devastate and destroy the rainforest in the name of progress?

That will be the quandary that Brazil's government will continually revisit until a better way of furthering the economy of the country while somehow preserving the integrity of the rainforest is discovered.

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The Brazilian pepper tree is a plant native to Brazil that has spread to other places. It is appreciated for its many benefits, yet is also considered an invasive species in some places.

It is also known as the Christmasberry tree or Florida holly, but there are many things about it not commonly known. Other names that it can go by include: American Pepper, false pepper, aguaribay, among others.

The pepper tree is part of the same family as poison ivy or poison sumac. Just like its relatives, it can also cause an allergic reaction to people who are sensitive to the plants. There may also be problems with the respiratory system when the plant is flowering.

The false pepper tree is actually more of a shrub than a tree. It can grow to around 30 feet in height and can live over 30 years. The trunk is short and is hidden by the branches. The leaves are a reddish color and are les than an inch long.

The flowers are white and form in clusters about 2-3 inches long. The pride of the plant is the fruit, tiny green berry-like objects that turn red when ripe. The plant begins to flower in September until October and the berries mature in December and January, which is where it gains its nickname Christmasberry tree.

The tree is native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, but has spread to other tropical places, including areas of the southern United States and Africa. It was brought to many areas because of its beauty as a landscape plant. In some areas, it has become a nuisance because it is so easy to grow and reproduce.

In spite of the allergies the pepper tree can cause, it has been used for many years as a healing remedy. The bark is saved, along with the seeds, fruit, and even the leaves for use to cure and improve many illnesses.

Folk remedies include making a liquid tincture from the bark as a stimulant and tonic. It has also been used as a diuretic and for the treatment of tumors. Remedial healers have used it topically for gout, syphilis, as well as cases or rheumatism.

Other folk healers recommend the leaves and fruit to be added to baths to help heal open wounds or ulcers on the body. An interesting fact of the leaves is that when they are placed in hot water, they jerk and twist as if they were alive and moving. This happens because the oil is being released.

Indigenous people in other countries where the false pepper tree is found naturally use it to cure all sorts of illnesses. In Peru, the plant is used as a laxative and as an antiseptic. South African people steep the leaves and make a tea to heal colds faster. The dried leaves are used in Argentina for respiratory and urinary infections.

The tree is still a popular plant today in herbal treatments in many countries. It is used in Brazil for the following health problems:

While it has not been proven to do everything advocates of the pepper tree claim, it has created an interest in the scientific community. Scientists have conducted research that shows there are some beneficial properties of the plant.

Scientists have shown that it has displayed antifungal actions against certain bacteria. Patents have been issued in the United States for its use as a topical application. Some research has shown the possibility that it could have positive results with cancerous tumors.

The pepper tree is also used in cooking because of its high oil contents. It has a spicy scent with a strong aroma. The berries are used to make syrups, vinegar, and beverages because of the spicy flavor. It can be added to wines and used as a pepper substitute.

It can be added to meat dishes such as lobster or pork; it also adds a unique taste to desserts. It is often called red pepper or pink pepper berry.

The fruits are harvested during the winter season in their native areas, which is May through August. They are either air dried or freeze dried to preserve them.

The pepper tree can take over its surroundings because of its widespread and aggressive growth capabilities. It covers over 700,000 acres in Florida where it is not even native. The problem with such domination is that it forms such a dense canopy to shade the area that other species cannot survive.

The pepper tree not only lives in terrestrial areas but also in aquatic places. It reduces the number of other natural species that live within the same area. Because of this, many places have banned the sale and moving of the plant to other areas.

One of the issues with the plant in the areas where it is prevalent is that it can cause sinus congestion, headaches, and eye irritation. There have also been reports of birds and animals dying when they have eaten the leaves and fruit of the plant.

Once the pepper tree has been introduced into an area, it is very difficult to get rid of. It can grow back even after a fire or other devastation. There are chemicals that will kill it and prevent regrowth. You can also dig it up by the roots, but you must make sure all of the roots are removed or it will come back.

There has been a great deal of controversy about the benefits and the problems with the Brazilian pepper tree. Many locals who harvest the plant find numerous benefits to having it. One cannot deny that it is a fascinating flora to look at and understand. The Brazilian pepper tree is just one plant that has made a name for itself beyond its country of origin.

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Despite much exploration and scientific study, innumerable tropical rainforest facts are yet unknown to us. One thing we do know for sure is that we need to know more and the rainforests will always have more to teach us.

Rainforests around the globe can offer us unique insight into the history of our planet, both geologically and ecologically.

These amazing forests are all positioned near the equator, between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which is why we call them “tropical”. Year-round warmth from the Sun has made this belt around the Earth a refuge for animal and plant life, even through periods of drastic climate change such as ice ages.

While most plant and animal species elsewhere had to evolve to adverse weather conditions or face extinction, those in wet tropical areas have benefited from a stable climate and evolved through competition with each other.

Some of the most interesting tropical rainforest facts show the curious inter-relationships developed between different species for mutual survival, observable in rainforests around the world.

You can find rainforest conditions throughout the tropical band, wherever the climate is wet enough and the topography is right. Annual rainfall must be at least 80 inches, in a low-lying landscape usually below 3,000 feet, for a rainforest to develop and be sustained.

Today, these areas include parts of Africa, Madagascar, India, Southeast Asia, and Central America. The country with the most rainforest territory within its borders is Brazil, which hosts 60% of the Amazon rainforest.

People sometimes call the rainforest a jungle, but this is not always correct. Technically, the jungle is only part of the rainforest, and a less common part in fact. “Jungle” is a term that describes the overgrowth of plants beneath the canopy, but this growth is only enabled where more-than-normal sunlight reaches the undergrowth area.

Rainforests have more biodiversity than all other biomes on Earth combined. About 80% of unique species of plants and animals have been discovered in these rich environments.

Most of the ground nutrients of the forest are found only in the top 2 inches of the soil. This has caused the rainforest trees to grow their roots near and above the surface instead of reaching deeper into the dirt for minerals as trees do elsewhere.

There are multiple levels in a rainforest, from the highest emergent level of the trees to the understory and surface growth, each has evolved a mini-ecosystem of its own. Many creatures, like some sloths, never have to leave the treetops.

Plant leaves develop differently in the upper and lower levels of the rainforest. In the shade beneath the canopy, leaves grow larger and darker, often with the ability to pivot in order to collect more sunlight. Leaves in the emergent layer grow a drip-tip which allows more water to run off and reduces their vulnerability to mold and fungi. Even with drip-tips, it can take up to 10 minutes for the rain to travel through the trees.

New species of plants and animals are discovered every year in rainforests worldwide. In the summer of 2011, for instance, a World Wildlife Fund expedition discovered a new species of titi monkey in the Mato Grasso region of Brazil. Several species of bio-luminescent mushrooms were identified in 2009 by scientists in different rainforests, including Mycena luxaeterna in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mycena silvaelucens in Borneo, Malaysia.

A rainforest environment can also exist on a mountaintop, fed by moisture in the air, rather than falling rain. Some “cloud forests” are found in Costa Rica and Jamaica. The Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is a popular tourist site on the big island of Hawaii.

Plants in the rainforest have different life cycles, blooming and bearing their fruit at different times throughout the year, based on the normal weather patterns.

Many pharmaceutical drugs were derived from rainforest plants. Only a tiny fraction of rainforest flora has been studied for medicinal properties however.

The newly discovered titi monkey species mentioned above was found in an area called the “Deforestation Crescent”, where much of the forest has been logged and cleared for cattle ranches over the past few decades.

Rare animals, like the Silvery Gibbon monkeys of Indonesia, are often targeted by poachers. There are only about 2,000 wild silvery gibbons estimated to exist today, and these monogamous monkeys don't breed so willingly in captivity.

There were 7 to 10 million natives living in the rainforest before European explorers arrived. Today there are comparatively very small pockets of indigenous people left. Many of those who still live in the forest have been greatly affected by modern civilization, but struggle to retain their ancestral knowledge and culture.

Rainforests cover only about 6% of the world's surface, but scientists say they once covered almost 15%. The remaining rainforests, they estimate, could be gone in a half-century.

More than an acre of forest is lost every second, when people and businesses are focused more on short-term profits and production than its long-term implications.

Despite the common understanding that trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere, some scientific studies paid for by large multinational corporations have tried to say Earth's rainforests are not the “lungs of the world”, but rather “oxygen neutral” in an attempt to manipulate tropical rainforest facts with new and questionable terminology.

Rainforests have survived natural destruction by volcanoes and global climate change in the past, but widespread deforestation causes changes too quickly for plants and animals to adapt. Harmful human activities pose a greater risk of extinction and, unlike Earth's natural environmental processes, our impact can be controlled and minimized.

Worldwide concern about Earth's environment and ecosystem has inspired a great debate over modern civilization's role in the balance.

As every plant and animal has a place and a purpose in the delicate ecosystem, so do humans. We have more power to impact the planet on a large scale than any other creature, with that power comes responsibility

We can benefit more from expanding our understanding and discovering new tropical rainforest facts than we can by over-using the abundant physical resources of rainforest regions.

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In the unique Amazon Rainforest climate, an incredible variety of plants and animals have flourished and evolved.

Its location on the sphere of our Earth keeps the temperature warm all year, with more change between day and night than there is from one season to another.

The length of day and night are almost equal all year round, because of its equatorial position. It receives the same amount of light and heat from the Sun consistently.

You could sum up the Amazon Rainforest climate by saying there is a less-wet season and a more-wet season. This means more humidity year-round than some visitors are accustomed to, but you adapt to it.

The rainforest spans the basin of the Amazon River and reaches into 9 countries. No country is more blessed by the forest and its biodiversity than Brazil though. Thousands of different species of animals and tens of thousands of plant species call Brazil's rainforest their home, many of them are unique to the region.

Life has adapted to thrive and coexist in the delicate balance of this environment. With the beauty of that balance comes great risk in the case of substantial change within the ecosystem.

Nowhere else is it so easy to witness the give-and-take of nature than a rainforest. Species of plants and animals have grown to depend on each other and also benefit from each other, over millions of years.

There are 4 levels in a rainforest environment, which support their own unique systems. The sunlight and rainfall have to get through about 150 feet of leaves and plants in the emergent layer and canopy, before they reach the forest's understory and floor.

Fewer plants grow beneath the canopy, the ones that do must grow large leaves to collect more of the very dim light. In the treetops of the emergent layer, there is so much growth and activity that some creatures don't ever need to leave it.

The rainforest floor is teeming with life that helps organic material decompose and become topsoil fertilizer. The surface itself acts like a sponge, minimizing the runoff of useful nutrients, but also holding all of the minerals in the top few inches of soil.

Everything in the ecosystem of the river basin has developed in competition and coexistence with everything else. The living environment has even adapted to take advantage of the seasonal floods that have been common in the Amazon Rainforest climate for ages.

Some plants with fruits or berries are only eaten by aquatic creatures when the water level is highest, and that is how their seeds are spread. The water level affects reproduction of some frog species as well, since they lay their eggs in places where they expect the usual amount of rainfall.

The people who have lived in the Amazon Rainforest climate for atleast 10,000 years adapted their way of life to the forest, and the forest likewise adapted itself to their civilization.

Even humans are part of the ecosystem, using some of its resources and contributing to its cultivation.

Archaeologists no longer believe the Brazilian rainforest was mostly untouched by the hunters and gatherers who lived there for ages. They've found signs of large populations of people who used more advanced agriculture methods than were previously supposed.

The soil itself, they say, shows signs of centuries of cultivation before westerners arrived.

Indigenous people grew to understand the forest, to use it, and also to protect themselves from it without destroying it. Their lives depended on it. Their knowledge was passed down for generations and expanded upon by their descendants.

Some of their traditions are very much alive today in local cultures, but the indigenous population is decreasing and very few groups retain the full knowledge of their ancestors.

Today, locals prepare for and depend on regular flooding in the Amazon Rainforest climate. Homes in flood regions are often built on stilts just above the normal flood level, 30 or 40 feet high in some cases, to prevent damage.

High water is essential for fishing and easy travel by boat. It also helps to control some bug populations from becoming too much of a menace.

Low water levels, especially in the case of a drought, have an impact on all life in the forest. There are often fish die-offs, which affect the local populations of people and animals as well as plants that depend on fish to disperse their seeds.

Scientists have expressed concern that changes to the Amazon Rainforest climate could have a snowball effect, not only throughout the river basin itself, but around the world as well.

Air is perhaps the greatest natural resource the rainforest has to offer humanity and the planet.

Trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into oxygen. Without this vital cycling of our air, the average global temperature rises and worldwide ecosystems are negatively affected.

From the Amazon alone, we get about 20% of our oxygen and we literally cannot live without it. That should be enough to inspire humanity to conserve the rainforest, but there is currently more discussion of taxing carbon emissions than conservation.

A tax would create more revenue for governments, but if that money isn't used to protect the rainforest it will not help us diminish our negative impact on Earth's environment.

Rainforest trees are being sacrificed to clear land for cattle ranches that provide leather to shoe manufacturers around the world. Logging, mining, and commercial farming cause a great deal of destruction every year.

It is estimated that the Amazon will not exist for more than 100 years if deforestation continues, but it may not take so long at all.

Some scientists fear that destruction of the river basin and nearby mountains already adversely affects the Amazon Rainforest climate. Severe droughts over the past decade have been linked to deforestation. When there is a drought, forest fires can wreak havoc on large portions of the Amazon.

The resources of the rainforest, conservationists say, are much more valuable to us when we protect and sustain it. There is an abundance of plant life we can study for treatment of diseases for example, much of the canopy is less explored than the depths of the oceans.

It's truly impossible to grasp the beauty of the Amazon without getting close enough to touch it. If you're able to visit and experience the rainforest first-hand, you will be most welcome. A friend of the forest is a friend of Brazil.

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There are hundreds of species of rainforest flowers that grow abundantly throughout the rainforests of Brazil, Peru, Australia, and others. This is especially miraculous because the soil in the Amazon rainforest is nearly bereft of nutrients!

Experts in botany claim there are hundreds, if not thousands, of flower and plant species in the Amazon rainforest. You’ll find flowers growing in each of the layers, including flowering trees in the canopy layer. Since most of the nutrients that plants require are in the plants and trees of the rainforest itself, flowers will grow not only from the soil, but within the various layers of trees and plants.

Every color of the rainbow can be found in the flowers of the rainforest! Blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, red, and many shades of each color too. Each flower species is unique in its appearance and design. They’re fascinating and beautiful!

Some species can be grown in other parts of the world, so you could possibly add some of these tropical flowers to your own garden.

The Amazon rainforest is home to at least 2,700 species of plant called a bromeliad. It's not necessarily a flower, but it could pass for one! It is a plant that grows on rocks, on other plants or trees, or from the soil.

From a top view, the plants look like flowers because of their stunning colors and leaf formation. They are actually a relative of the pineapple, but are much prettier with colors of blue, red, purple, yellow, white, green, red, maroon, and crème.

An interesting thing about bromeliads - their uniquely designed leaves hold water after it rains, providing a mini ecosystem for insects, snails, tiny frog species, and even small salamanders!

Puya Raimondii is the largest bromeliad species with a flower spike measuring up to 10 meters high.

Some species of this flowering plant can be cultivated and grown in warmer climates across the world, but it is naturally found in Florida, Peru, Columbia, Brazil, and Chile.

Also known as the lobster claw plant, heliconias display a beautiful array of colors including pink, green, purple, yellow, red, and orange. Leaves of the plant are oblong in shape and can grow up to 10 feet in length.
This rainforest flower provides a nesting place for hermit birds, food for hummingbirds in the forest, and housing materials for the Honduran White Bat.

It’s a popular ornamental plant used in tropical gardens across the world.

Orchids are classified as epiphytes – a plant that utilizes another plant or tree for support and gets its food from rain, compost left behind on tree branches, and the air. These beautiful flowers number 10,000 species in the rainforests and tropical areas of the world alone!

The strong scent of an orchid will draw insects and moths to it and they in turn will help pollinate the orchid species. Colors of orchids can be any color of the rainbow, but never are found in true black. The smallest orchid bloom measures about the size of a nickel whereas the largest bloom can weigh 2,000 pounds and have flower petals that measure up to 30 inches!

Rainforest orchid species grow best in South America, Central America, and in countries located near the Andes Mountains. Thousands of other orchid species can be cultivated and grown successfully across the world.

The blue passionflower, a flowering vine, is native to the Brazilian rainforest and Argentina. It’s a very interesting looking flower with long white petals spreading outward from the center. Over the white petals are spiny white or blue colored petals and above that are the green and purple stamens. The blooms give off a delicious minty scent that might remind some of tropical fruit.

These rainforest flowers produce not only beautiful blooms, but also edible, oval shaped, orange fruit. The blue passionflower can grow in most climates other than extremely cold ones, but does require a structured support system given that it can grow as high as 30 feet into the air.

The water lily is one of the largest flower species in the world. The giant Amazon water lily, found in the Brazilian Amazon, can cover large expanses of water with its giant green pads. The pads can be as wide as 7 to 8 feet across! The flowers grow up in between the giant pads on stems that can be as long as 18 feet. White blooms appear first and then turn into pink flowers within one day. The blooms themselves can be up to 12 inches high.

Giant water lilies are on display in a few botanical gardens, but cannot be cultivated in home gardens.

Many species of flowering trees flourish in the tropical rainforest alongside the flower and plant species. Some of the flowering trees in the rainforest include:

The diversity of rainforest flowers is so amazing and beautiful! The humid environment of the rainforest encourages the flowers and the flowering trees to bloom at various times throughout the year, so if you would visit, you’d see many species in bloom at any given time!

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If you are the adventurous type, you may plan a trip to the Amazon to see rain forest animals when you visit Brazil. It's a truly amazing experience!

The Amazon rain forest is the home of several hundred species, many that you may never have heard about before. It can be a fun, educational experience on an once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Sixty percent of the Amazon rain forest is found in Brazil. You can experience the sights and sounds of the Amazon on tours that take you the heart of the rain forest. Manaus is the main city to stay in for your visit and you will find plenty of tours ranging from a day or two to a week or more.

Known as the Little Spotted Cat, the oncilla is a feline that lives in the Amazon. It is somewhat smaller than a typical housecat and lives on rodents. Its fur is light colored with black or brown rosettes that are open in the center; this helps them to blend in with the patchy sunlight on the rain forest floor.

The oncilla behaves similar to a housecat by stalking its prey and then pouncing on it. They also purr when they are contented and are agile climbers. While they are nocturnal, they can be seen during the day if they are looking for food.

Similar to the oncilla, the jaguarondi is another cat that makes their home in the Amazon rain forest. Visitors who choose to trek through the area may be lucky enough to see one of these beautiful rain forest animals since they like to be out during the day.

The jaguarondi is referred to as an otter cat because of the short legs and long body and tail. They also have little rounded ears and are solid in color. They mainly travel alone and will climb trees but prefer to be on the ground.

One of the most interesting animals you will find in the rain forest is the capybara. It is the world’s largest rodent, weighing between 35 to 66 kg (77 to 150 lbs). Unlike many wild animals, they enjoy living in groups and during the dry season, you may find fifty to a hundred living together.

Capybaras are great swimmers and often sleep in the water with just their nose showing. When they are trying to escape from predators, they will head for the water where they can be completely submersed for up to five minutes.

The anaconda makes its home in the Brazilian rain forest and is one of the most intriguing rain forest animals. It is one of the largest snakes on the planet and is also known as the water boa because it spends much of its time in shallow water waiting for prey.

Anacondas are meat eaters and they hunt their prey at night. They squeeze their prey to death or drown it. This prey consists of animals such as deer, pigs, and capybaras, along with other rain forest animals. It is one of the most awesome creatures that you could see on a hike through the forest, but I'm sure you won't want to get too close!

No list of rain forest animals would be complete without the monkeys! Howler monkeys are among the largest monkeys in the New World. They live for fifteen to twenty years. They have earned their name because of their style of communication.

Howler monkeys make loud noises at dawn, at dusk, and other times of the day and are considered to be the loudest land animal. Its sound can be heard up to three miles away. Imagine walking through the forest and hearing their howl from high up in the trees!

Capuchin monkeys are considered the most intelligent monkey in the New World. They have been used in movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean. They are named after the Order of the Friars Capuchin because they look like they are wearing robes.

Capuchin monkeys are kept as service animals much like seeing eye dogs to care for disabled people. They undergo extensive training and are placed with paralyzed people to get things for them and to help them with tasks like opening bottles.

The picarucu is the largest river fish in the world. Weighing in at over 100kg (220 lbs) for the largest of the fish, it is quite impressive to see. It can be up to 2m (6.6 ft) long, which makes it quite a prize for fishermen.

The Brazil government has banned commercial fishing for these fish because of their low population numbers. Locals can catch them for eating, and they can be caught and released in certain areas of the Amazon Basin.

They picarucuhave to be handled with care because of their size. The picarucu is an air breather and needs to be held for five minutes after catching before being released back into the water.The pink dolphin is a nickname for the Amazon River dolphin, the largest river dolphin in the world. It is listed as an endangered species due to overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat.

The neck vertebrae of the pink dolphin are not fused, allowing it to turn its neck 180 degrees. This helps it catch fish among underwater tree trunks. Amazon legend says that it turns into a handsome man at night to charm the local girls and then turns back into a dolphin by morning!

There are hundreds of mammals and reptiles, thousands of birds and fish, and multitudes of insects in the Amazon. While you may not see many of these on a visit, you will have opportunity to view some of the rain forest animals.

More than one-fifth of the Amazon rain forest has already been destroyed by developers. Visiting the Amazon will give you an insight in the importance of protecting this valuable habitat for many of the world’s animals. It will be an unforgettable experience to see what nature has to offer and to appreciate the importance of protecting it.

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Amazon rainforest destruction in Brazil is reducing the acreage of one of the largest rainforests in the world at an alarming rate.

This is cause for concern not only for the people in Brazil but for people everywhere who reap the natural benefits from the rainforest. It is not just a Brazil problem, but a world problem.

The air we breathe comes from the rainforest or at least some of it. Oxygen is created by recycling carbon dioxide, a process done by plants. Since the rainforest covers over a billion acres, it processes over twenty percent of oxygen used throughout the world.

Twenty-five percent of medicines used in the western hemisphere come from ingredients found in the rainforest. There are many more that have remained undiscovered by scientists. Experts believe that the rainforest may contain plants to aid in developing medicines for the treatment and cure of viruses, cancers, and even AIDS. Unfortunately, the rainforest destruction could kill those plants before they are ever found.

Much of the diet of most developed countries has come from Brazil. It is home to fruits such as figs, oranges, and pineapples. You will also find corn, rice, potatoes, and spices, along with Brazil nuts and cashews.

The amount of plants and animals that we are aware of is a tiny percentage of what lives in the rainforest. There are many untapped resources that could be beneficial to mankind once they are discovered. For instance, we use around 200 kinds of fruits found in the rainforests, but there are over 3,000. The Indian tribes use around 2,000, which tells us there many more that we could be using to help feed people.

Deforestation began in the 1940s but grew in the 1960s as cattle farmers moved there to take advantage of the rise in the price of beef. Today, the Amazon has lost approximately twenty percent of its original ground.

Brazil is the top exporter of soybeans, which are often grown by farmers in the rainforest. Because the ground is only fertile for a few years, farmers keep clearing more land to maintain their income from crops.

Logging is also responsible for much of the rainforest destruction. Not only are trees felled for the wood they provide, but many others are to create a path out of the forest. Most logging companies do not participate in selective logging, which is thought to prevent complete deforestation. Even those who do, disturb numerous acres as they select specific species of trees for harvest.

Another rampant problem in the rainforest is illegal logging. It is easy to obtain a fake logging certificate and harvest trees with many illegal methods. The government is seeking to change that by issuing electronic certificates. They have seized large numbers of illegal equipment and logs, but the problem still continues.

Because of the attention that deforestation has gotten in recent years, the rate has dropped dramatically. In 2009, only 7,000 square kilometers were lost. This is a seventy-five percent drop from the highest point in 2004, when it was over 24,000 kilometers.

While things have begun to improve in limiting deforestation, the rainforest has lost nearly one million acres since the process started. This has affected the climate not only in Brazil, but around the world.

There are many ways that people can help preserve the rainforest while halting the rainforest destruction. One way is by making the land that has been cleared more profitable. Through the use of improved technology, farmers can increase their productivity without the need to clear more land.

Replanting the forest is one of the most important steps in preserving it. In areas where some species still survive, they can repopulate if trees and other plants are replanted and cared for until they can sustain themselves. Animals and other creatures that are in danger of extinction can return to that area.

Protected areas need to be expanded and more enforcement agents hired to patrol the area. More funds are needed to allow this to happen. At the same time, involvement by those who live in the area would have a major impact.

One of the best ways to decrease the rainforest destruction is by educating the people who live in the rainforest on the proper way to care for their farms and the land that surrounds them.

Preserving the rainforest is going to take more than individual efforts. Large companies need to take a stand against the mistreatment of nature. The only motivation they will have to do that is if customers cut down their use of products and boycott items made by those companies.

If large companies are pressured to make changes by their customers, they will in turn pressure the government to make changes. It is a long process to change the mindset of people when money is involved.

An initiative that is currently being considered by lawmakers in the United States could have a definite impact on the Brazilian rainforest. Billions of dollars could be sent to countries for preserving their rainforests, protecting ecosystems, providing erosion control, and other measures designed to protect the natural habitat that everyone benefits from.

The US would be joining a worldwide response initiated by the UN to help prevent continued rainforest destruction. The initiative is called Reducing Emissions from Deforestation Forest Degradation and is called REDD for short. Many countries would be able to afford to implement plans that they cannot do today.

The rainforest is not just important to the countries where it is located, but to people in many other countries. If the rainforest continues to be lost, changes will be seen throughout the world. This requires everyone to get involved to save one of the earth’s most valuable resources.

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There are hundreds of species of rainforest flowers that grow abundantly throughout the rainforests of Brazil, Peru, Australia, and others. This is especially miraculous because the soil in the Amazon rainforest is nearly bereft of nutrients!

Experts in botany claim there are hundreds, if not thousands, of flower and plant species in the Amazon rainforest. You’ll find flowers growing in each of the layers, including flowering trees in the canopy layer. Since most of the nutrients that plants require are in the plants and trees of the rainforest itself, flowers will grow not only from the soil, but within the various layers of trees and plants.

Every color of the rainbow can be found in the flowers of the rainforest! Blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, red, and many shades of each color too. Each flower species is unique in its appearance and design. They’re fascinating and beautiful!

Some species can be grown in other parts of the world, so you could possibly add some of these tropical flowers to your own garden.

The Amazon rainforest is home to at least 2,700 species of plant called a bromeliad. It's not necessarily a flower, but it could pass for one! It is a plant that grows on rocks, on other plants or trees, or from the soil.

From a top view, the plants look like flowers because of their stunning colors and leaf formation. They are actually a relative of the pineapple, but are much prettier with colors of blue, red, purple, yellow, white, green, red, maroon, and crème.

An interesting thing about bromeliads - their uniquely designed leaves hold water after it rains, providing a mini ecosystem for insects, snails, tiny frog species, and even small salamanders!

Puya Raimondii is the largest bromeliad species with a flower spike measuring up to 10 meters high.

Some species of this flowering plant can be cultivated and grown in warmer climates across the world, but it is naturally found in Florida, Peru, Columbia, Brazil, and Chile.

Also known as the lobster claw plant, heliconias display a beautiful array of colors including pink, green, purple, yellow, red, and orange. Leaves of the plant are oblong in shape and can grow up to 10 feet in length.
This rainforest flower provides a nesting place for hermit birds, food for hummingbirds in the forest, and housing materials for the Honduran White Bat.

It’s a popular ornamental plant used in tropical gardens across the world.

Orchids are classified as epiphytes – a plant that utilizes another plant or tree for support and gets its food from rain, compost left behind on tree branches, and the air. These beautiful flowers number 10,000 species in the rainforests and tropical areas of the world alone!

The strong scent of an orchid will draw insects and moths to it and they in turn will help pollinate the orchid species. Colors of orchids can be any color of the rainbow, but never are found in true black. The smallest orchid bloom measures about the size of a nickel whereas the largest bloom can weigh 2,000 pounds and have flower petals that measure up to 30 inches!

Rainforest orchid species grow best in South America, Central America, and in countries located near the Andes Mountains. Thousands of other orchid species can be cultivated and grown successfully across the world.

The blue passionflower, a flowering vine, is native to the Brazilian rainforest and Argentina. It’s a very interesting looking flower with long white petals spreading outward from the center. Over the white petals are spiny white or blue colored petals and above that are the green and purple stamens. The blooms give off a delicious minty scent that might remind some of tropical fruit.

These rainforest flowers produce not only beautiful blooms, but also edible, oval shaped, orange fruit. The blue passionflower can grow in most climates other than extremely cold ones, but does require a structured support system given that it can grow as high as 30 feet into the air.

The water lily is one of the largest flower species in the world. The giant Amazon water lily, found in the Brazilian Amazon, can cover large expanses of water with its giant green pads. The pads can be as wide as 7 to 8 feet across! The flowers grow up in between the giant pads on stems that can be as long as 18 feet. White blooms appear first and then turn into pink flowers within one day. The blooms themselves can be up to 12 inches high.

Giant water lilies are on display in a few botanical gardens, but cannot be cultivated in home gardens.

Many species of flowering trees flourish in the tropical rainforest alongside the flower and plant species. Some of the flowering trees in the rainforest include:

The diversity of rainforest flowers is so amazing and beautiful! The humid environment of the rainforest encourages the flowers and the flowering trees to bloom at various times throughout the year, so if you would visit, you’d see many species in bloom at any given time!

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The intricacies of the tropical rainforest food web are incredibly diverse and interesting if you look closely at how the rainforest plants and animals sustain each other. Yes, it’s a two way street, not just animals sustaining plants or plants sustaining animals!

The animals of the rainforest would not be healthy without the plants of the rainforest and the plants of the rainforest would no longer flourish without the help of the animals.

How does it all work together to create the unique food web we find in the rainforest? Tropical rainforests are one of the most fascinating and varied ecosystems on the planet.

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has thousands of species of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. It makes sense then that each of these critters depends on something to stay alive, right?

Sunlight is where the food web truly begins! Without sunshine, plants wouldn't grow, right? Plants need the sun to photosynthesize or grow properly. Healthy plants then provide food for animals in the rainforest.

The leaves of plants and the fruit on plants are food for animals like leafcutter ants, opossum, tree kangaroos, and a host of insect species.

The fruit is eaten by herbivores like monkeys, apes, deer, and sloths. Insects and birds enjoy eating fruit from the plants too. Even the fish swimming in the Amazon River eat fruit that falls from the trees into the river!

Plants are important to the delicate ecosystem all the way down to the roots of rainforest plants. They are food for small insects like beetle larvae and spiders. Pretty neat, right?

Snails, bandicoots, kangaroos, fish, echidnas, small reptiles, and frogs fit into this category of herbivores as well.

Smaller animals, like skinks and birds also depend on insects, a source of meat, to survive. Other small carnivores in this level of the food web include frogs, snakes, rodents, owls, platypus, dunnarts, kookaburras, and quolls.

This is the most complex level of the tropical rainforest food web because these larger animals not only eat meat, but can also eat plants in their diet too. Animals included in this level are feral dogs, crocodiles, feral cats, pythons, and dingoes.

Think of the largest and most fierce animals in the rainforest and this is where they fit into the food web. Jaguars, huge pythons, tigers, crocodiles, vultures, owls, and eagles are some of the most feared and dangerous predators in the rainforest.

The indigenous people of the rainforest are also included in this level of the food web, for they too depend on the plant and animal life in the rainforest to survive.

A food web is very different than a food chain. Think of it this way: a chain has links that go in a line, one after another. The most basic food chain is described as large animals eat small animals and small animals eat smaller animals and insects and so forth.

Food webs are much more complicated, which makes them much more interesting. Imagine a spider web in your mind. It has many threads going in different directions and sometimes the threads overlap one another.

It's very much like that in the rainforest too and as you begin to understand how it works, you'll see what we mean by the spider web analogy.

Large animals eat small animals and then small animals eat smaller animals and insects. Once any size animal dies, it becomes food for the scavengers of the rainforest.

The remains of dead animals break down into nutrients that feed the plants of the rainforest floor. The cycle begins all over again with plants providing food for the animals.

It's very simple really! Animals rely on plants so they have food to eat. Plants count on animals spreading their pollen and seeds around the rainforest so that plants can pollinate and new plants can spring up in new locations.

Bats, wasps, moths, and beetles are a few of the animals that unknowingly carry pollen from one plant to another.

What do you think happens when a capybara eats fruit with seeds inside? The seeds travel through the capybara's system and are excreted onto the ground and many times that seed sprouts into a new plant!

Due to the high humidity and heat in the rainforest, dead animals decompose rather quickly, providing nutrients to the plants, and then the plants grow pretty quickly to begin the cycle all over again.

Here are some interesting examples of the food web in the rainforest.

Isn't the tropical rainforest food web fascinating? It's so complex that many aspects of it are still being studied. New discoveries are uncovered every day!

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Brazil is home to thousands of Amazon rainforest animals, each unique in their own special way. It’s amazing to think about the fact that nearly 60% of the rainforest is in Brazil and in that part of the Amazon rainforest reside almost 1/10th of the world’s animal species!

This beautiful country is diverse in their culture, music, food, and also their animal life. Many researchers and scientists believe there are still hundreds if not thousands of species still to be discovered in the Amazon!

There are nearly 3,000 various species of freshwater fish in the waters of the Amazon rainforest.

Some of the species include:

And several other varieties of carp, cichlids, tetras, piranhas, and catfish.

These are just a small sampling of the thousands of fish in the waters of the Brazilian Amazon!

Just over 600 species of mammals have been discovered so far in the Brazilian rainforest. Here are just a few!

The Amazonian manatee is Brazil's largest water mammal weighing in at 1,000 to 1,200 pounds. A few weighing as much as 3,000 pounds have been found!

They can reach eight to ten feet in length, which means if they were able to stand, they'd be taller than most people. They live in the Amazon River and the tributaries of the river.

Sadly, the manatee is on the endangered species list. Thankfully, zoos around the world have taken in manatees in hopes of preserving the species.

Primate mammals of Brazil include 35 species of tamarins, marmosets, and lion tamarins. Capuchin monkeys, Saki monkeys, Night monkeys, Woolly monkeys, Uarkaris, Muriquis, Spider monkeys, and Titi monkeys account for nearly 70 species of monkey alone!

If you love bats, visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil! Bats of every size are in the rainforest! There are over 1,000 bat species in this part of the world alone. I find that amazing! The Brazilian free-tailed bat is one of the smallest bats - an adult weighs a mere 0.0286 lbs.

Tapirs are herbivores, feeding on plants due to the fact that their digestive system can only handle a small amount of food at a time.

Here's an interesting fact about tapirs - much of what they put into their mouth travels through their system and exits out the other end undigested. Why is this significant? Tapirs unknowingly spread plant species around the rainforest!

The bird species are one of most prevalent Amazon rainforest animals at just over 1,600 species in all! They actually rank third in the world for the number of bird species that call the Amazon rainforest home.

What sorts of birds could you expect to see? Parrots of all kinds and colors for one! There are nearly 70 species of parrots in the rainforest of Brazil.

Toucans, hummingbirds, penguins, vultures, trogons, swans, ducks, flamingos, eagles, hawks, rheas, owls, and tinamous are just a few of the diverse bird species living in the rainforest.

This isn’t even a complete list of all the bird species that can be found in the Brazilian rainforest!

Brazil’s rainforest contains just under 500 various species of reptiles ranging in size from one-half inch to 30 feet long!

It's no surprise that the anaconda is one of the most fearsome Amazon rainforest animals given that it has the ability to swallow an entire cow and weighs as much as a horse!

The anaconda uses its 30-foot body to surround and crush its prey instead of injecting it with venom. Anacondas are not venomous, but they are definitely an animal that you don't want to encounter!

The caiman may remind some people of an alligator or crocodile because of the long snout and large teeth. It can grow up to 13 feet in length and has bony ridges across its snout.

Caimans hunt at night preying on other reptiles, capybaras, fish, shrimp, and mammals. They live in freshwater rivers and lakes of the Amazon.

Don't let the tiny size of these frogs fool you - a mere 2 ½ grams of this frog's poison can kill a person of 150 pounds! They're very pretty with colors of red, black, black and white, yellow, and green.

Walking through the Amazon rainforest during the day, you might get to see them hopping along the rainforest floor hunting insects to eat. They immobilize their prey or enemies by excreting poison from their skin.

Still More Amazon Rainforest Reptile Species

We would be remiss if we didn't mention that Brazil's rainforest boasts at the minimum 70,000 insect species and at the most 15 million insect species!

It would be impossible to name them all here but some of the species include ants, spiders, and butterflies, to name a simple few. Each day, more species are being discovered!

One of the most interesting species of insect in the rainforest is the leafcutter ant. These are ants that specialize in growing their own fungus, or food, under the ground using leaves they cut with their sharp jaws.

Once they get the leaves back to their underground home, the chew up the leaf, spit it out, add feces and fungus and voila, they have food to eat.

Leafcutter ants can carry 10 times their weight on their back! These ants make a series of mounds in the earth they call home.

The series of mounds of leafcutter ants can take up a lot of space - up to 6,500 square feet in some cases. Within these mounds can be up to 8 million ants!

I am always amazed at the diversity number of Amazon rainforest animals there are in Brazil!

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A tropical rainforest biome is a huge geographical area filled with species of animals and plants that are unique to the rainforest climate. Biomes are sometimes called ecosystems, but both terms refer to the way the animals and plants in that ecosystem interact with the climate, soil, rocks, water, and the actual location on the globe.

Tropical rainforests are geographically located in close proximity to the equator, which accounts for the extremely humid and rainy conditions that are typical of the rainforest.

Let's work our way from the ground of the rainforest up to the top of the canopy.

Sunlight has a very difficult time reaching the forest floor; it might receive 1 to 2% sunlight at any given time. So, what grows here? Plants that need very little light can grow on the forest floor, but mostly you would find a thin layer made up of decomposing materials. The decaying materials include fruit, seeds, leaves, and branches. It's this matter that provides nutrients for the plants and trees in the rainforest.

This layer is dark since it receives only a bit more light than the forest floor - about 2% to maybe 15%. In this layer you would find low-light loving plants and trees. This layer isn't as thick as the upper layers. Did you know that many of the plants we grow in our homes come from the understory layer of the rainforest?

Unlike the open understory layer, the canopy layer is very dense; thus its name because it actually provides a live canopy over the lower layers of the rainforest. This layer occurs roughly 59 to 90 feet above the forest floor. Vines use the trees to climb, creating an interwoven mass of plants, tree branches and leaves.

The tallest of trees emerge from the canopy layer and actually get to see the sunlight. These trees are 130 to 250 feet high! They're kind of the protective layer since they take the brunt of the sun, moisture, winds, and humid hot temperatures.

50% of all the world's animal and plant species are found here

There are several plants in the rainforest that could potentially have cancer-curing properties

Tribal people have lived and survived in the rainforest for several hundred years and know how to respect the land while getting what they need from it

Animal and plant species within the rainforest are completely interdependent

The average temperature in the rainforest is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can get much, much hotter

It rains about 90 days per year in the rainforest, which equates to roughly 80 inches of rain per year

Tropical rainforests provide the earth with nearly 40% of required oxygen

2,500 vine species thrive in the rainforest

Animal species are thriving in the rainforest - it's estimated that 40 - 100 species of animals can be found in 2 1/2 acres of rainforest!

Tropical rainforests regulate the world's weather patterns and rainfall patterns

It's difficult to imagine that thousands of acres of rainforest could truly be affected by a little construction here, some clearing there, but the rainforest is decreasing at an alarming rate due to many influences.

Logging is destroying large areas of the rainforest. Logging produces wood for manufacturing purposes, buildings, firewood, and charcoal.

More and more people are moving out of the cities and into the quieter areas of the country, which means they're encroaching on the rainforest little by little as they inhabit an acre here and an acre there.

Cattle ranchers are responsible for destroying literally millions of acres of lush rainforest in the name of making a living.

We can't leave out the commercial interests either - there are companies who come in and clear thousands of acres to plant commercial crops for export.

Additional causes of rainforest destruction include mining, wars, erosion, and natural disasters.

Sadly, if the destruction of the rainforest doesn't stop, we could soon be facing an oxygen shortage around the world! Our weather patterns and rainfall patterns will change dramatically.

We could be potentially destroying the answers to cancer and many other medical conditions be eliminating the unique plant and animal life in the rainforest.

The long-term ramifications of losing the rainforest in the name of the almighty dollar are not worth the short-term rewards.

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In the unique Amazon Rainforest climate, an incredible variety of plants and animals have flourished and evolved.

Its location on the sphere of our Earth keeps the temperature warm all year, with more change between day and night than there is from one season to another.

The length of day and night are almost equal all year round, because of its equatorial position. It receives the same amount of light and heat from the Sun consistently.

You could sum up the Amazon Rainforest climate by saying there is a less-wet season and a more-wet season. This means more humidity year-round than some visitors are accustomed to, but you adapt to it.

The rainforest spans the basin of the Amazon River and reaches into 9 countries. No country is more blessed by the forest and its biodiversity than Brazil though. Thousands of different species of animals and tens of thousands of plant species call Brazil's rainforest their home, many of them are unique to the region.

Life has adapted to thrive and coexist in the delicate balance of this environment. With the beauty of that balance comes great risk in the case of substantial change within the ecosystem.

Nowhere else is it so easy to witness the give-and-take of nature than a rainforest. Species of plants and animals have grown to depend on each other and also benefit from each other, over millions of years.

There are 4 levels in a rainforest environment, which support their own unique systems. The sunlight and rainfall have to get through about 150 feet of leaves and plants in the emergent layer and canopy, before they reach the forest's understory and floor.

Fewer plants grow beneath the canopy, the ones that do must grow large leaves to collect more of the very dim light. In the treetops of the emergent layer, there is so much growth and activity that some creatures don't ever need to leave it.

The rainforest floor is teeming with life that helps organic material decompose and become topsoil fertilizer. The surface itself acts like a sponge, minimizing the runoff of useful nutrients, but also holding all of the minerals in the top few inches of soil.

Everything in the ecosystem of the river basin has developed in competition and coexistence with everything else. The living environment has even adapted to take advantage of the seasonal floods that have been common in the Amazon Rainforest climate for ages.

Some plants with fruits or berries are only eaten by aquatic creatures when the water level is highest, and that is how their seeds are spread. The water level affects reproduction of some frog species as well, since they lay their eggs in places where they expect the usual amount of rainfall.

The people who have lived in the Amazon Rainforest climate for atleast 10,000 years adapted their way of life to the forest, and the forest likewise adapted itself to their civilization.

Even humans are part of the ecosystem, using some of its resources and contributing to its cultivation.

Archaeologists no longer believe the Brazilian rainforest was mostly untouched by the hunters and gatherers who lived there for ages. They've found signs of large populations of people who used more advanced agriculture methods than were previously supposed.

The soil itself, they say, shows signs of centuries of cultivation before westerners arrived.

Indigenous people grew to understand the forest, to use it, and also to protect themselves from it without destroying it. Their lives depended on it. Their knowledge was passed down for generations and expanded upon by their descendants.

Some of their traditions are very much alive today in local cultures, but the indigenous population is decreasing and very few groups retain the full knowledge of their ancestors.

Today, locals prepare for and depend on regular flooding in the Amazon Rainforest climate. Homes in flood regions are often built on stilts just above the normal flood level, 30 or 40 feet high in some cases, to prevent damage.

High water is essential for fishing and easy travel by boat. It also helps to control some bug populations from becoming too much of a menace.

Low water levels, especially in the case of a drought, have an impact on all life in the forest. There are often fish die-offs, which affect the local populations of people and animals as well as plants that depend on fish to disperse their seeds.

Scientists have expressed concern that changes to the Amazon Rainforest climate could have a snowball effect, not only throughout the river basin itself, but around the world as well.

Air is perhaps the greatest natural resource the rainforest has to offer humanity and the planet.

Trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into oxygen. Without this vital cycling of our air, the average global temperature rises and worldwide ecosystems are negatively affected.

From the Amazon alone, we get about 20% of our oxygen and we literally cannot live without it. That should be enough to inspire humanity to conserve the rainforest, but there is currently more discussion of taxing carbon emissions than conservation.

A tax would create more revenue for governments, but if that money isn't used to protect the rainforest it will not help us diminish our negative impact on Earth's environment.

Rainforest trees are being sacrificed to clear land for cattle ranches that provide leather to shoe manufacturers around the world. Logging, mining, and commercial farming cause a great deal of destruction every year.

It is estimated that the Amazon will not exist for more than 100 years if deforestation continues, but it may not take so long at all.

Some scientists fear that destruction of the river basin and nearby mountains already adversely affects the Amazon Rainforest climate. Severe droughts over the past decade have been linked to deforestation. When there is a drought, forest fires can wreak havoc on large portions of the Amazon.

The resources of the rainforest, conservationists say, are much more valuable to us when we protect and sustain it. There is an abundance of plant life we can study for treatment of diseases for example, much of the canopy is less explored than the depths of the oceans.

It's truly impossible to grasp the beauty of the Amazon without getting close enough to touch it. If you're able to visit and experience the rainforest first-hand, you will be most welcome. A friend of the forest is a friend of Brazil.

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If you are the adventurous type, you may plan a trip to the Amazon to see rain forest animals when you visit Brazil. It's a truly amazing experience!

The Amazon rain forest is the home of several hundred species, many that you may never have heard about before. It can be a fun, educational experience on an once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Sixty percent of the Amazon rain forest is found in Brazil. You can experience the sights and sounds of the Amazon on tours that take you the heart of the rain forest. Manaus is the main city to stay in for your visit and you will find plenty of tours ranging from a day or two to a week or more.

Known as the Little Spotted Cat, the oncilla is a feline that lives in the Amazon. It is somewhat smaller than a typical housecat and lives on rodents. Its fur is light colored with black or brown rosettes that are open in the center; this helps them to blend in with the patchy sunlight on the rain forest floor.

The oncilla behaves similar to a housecat by stalking its prey and then pouncing on it. They also purr when they are contented and are agile climbers. While they are nocturnal, they can be seen during the day if they are looking for food.

Similar to the oncilla, the jaguarondi is another cat that makes their home in the Amazon rain forest. Visitors who choose to trek through the area may be lucky enough to see one of these beautiful rain forest animals since they like to be out during the day.

The jaguarondi is referred to as an otter cat because of the short legs and long body and tail. They also have little rounded ears and are solid in color. They mainly travel alone and will climb trees but prefer to be on the ground.

One of the most interesting animals you will find in the rain forest is the capybara. It is the world’s largest rodent, weighing between 35 to 66 kg (77 to 150 lbs). Unlike many wild animals, they enjoy living in groups and during the dry season, you may find fifty to a hundred living together.

Capybaras are great swimmers and often sleep in the water with just their nose showing. When they are trying to escape from predators, they will head for the water where they can be completely submersed for up to five minutes.

The anaconda makes its home in the Brazilian rain forest and is one of the most intriguing rain forest animals. It is one of the largest snakes on the planet and is also known as the water boa because it spends much of its time in shallow water waiting for prey.

Anacondas are meat eaters and they hunt their prey at night. They squeeze their prey to death or drown it. This prey consists of animals such as deer, pigs, and capybaras, along with other rain forest animals. It is one of the most awesome creatures that you could see on a hike through the forest, but I'm sure you won't want to get too close!

No list of rain forest animals would be complete without the monkeys! Howler monkeys are among the largest monkeys in the New World. They live for fifteen to twenty years. They have earned their name because of their style of communication.

Howler monkeys make loud noises at dawn, at dusk, and other times of the day and are considered to be the loudest land animal. Its sound can be heard up to three miles away. Imagine walking through the forest and hearing their howl from high up in the trees!

Capuchin monkeys are considered the most intelligent monkey in the New World. They have been used in movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean. They are named after the Order of the Friars Capuchin because they look like they are wearing robes.

Capuchin monkeys are kept as service animals much like seeing eye dogs to care for disabled people. They undergo extensive training and are placed with paralyzed people to get things for them and to help them with tasks like opening bottles.

The picarucu is the largest river fish in the world. Weighing in at over 100kg (220 lbs) for the largest of the fish, it is quite impressive to see. It can be up to 2m (6.6 ft) long, which makes it quite a prize for fishermen.

The Brazil government has banned commercial fishing for these fish because of their low population numbers. Locals can catch them for eating, and they can be caught and released in certain areas of the Amazon Basin.

They picarucuhave to be handled with care because of their size. The picarucu is an air breather and needs to be held for five minutes after catching before being released back into the water.The pink dolphin is a nickname for the Amazon River dolphin, the largest river dolphin in the world. It is listed as an endangered species due to overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat.

The neck vertebrae of the pink dolphin are not fused, allowing it to turn its neck 180 degrees. This helps it catch fish among underwater tree trunks. Amazon legend says that it turns into a handsome man at night to charm the local girls and then turns back into a dolphin by morning!

There are hundreds of mammals and reptiles, thousands of birds and fish, and multitudes of insects in the Amazon. While you may not see many of these on a visit, you will have opportunity to view some of the rain forest animals.

More than one-fifth of the Amazon rain forest has already been destroyed by developers. Visiting the Amazon will give you an insight in the importance of protecting this valuable habitat for many of the world’s animals. It will be an unforgettable experience to see what nature has to offer and to appreciate the importance of protecting it.

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The population of indigenous people of the rainforest in Brazil is estimated at a little over 700,000 people. There are over 200 different tribes with around 170 languages spoken within those tribes that make up the group of people referred to as indigenous to Brazil. Each tribe or culture is distinctly unique with their own customs, way of living, and language.

Some of these groups have relocated from the rural areas to the city, some live within an area they have settled into, some live in areas where they are isolated completely from other people, and still other groups of indigenous people have yet to be contacted by outsiders.

It was estimated by FUNAI in 2007 that there could be as many as 67 uncontacted tribes living in Brazil. FUNAI is the Funda??o Nacional do ?ndio, a Brazilian governmental protection agency that looks out for the interests of the indigenous people of Brazil.

Indigenous people are those people who lived in Brazil even before the Europeans came to the country and essentially took over, which was sometime in 1500. They are uniquely ethnic groups who love living on the wealth of the land without endangering the plants and animals within the land.

Some of the tribes travel whereas others stay put in one area. Unfortunately, when the Europeans came to Brazil, thousands of indigenous people were murdered or died from the sickness brought in by the settlers.

The indigenous people of Brazil have extensive knowledge of how to live within the rainforest and the land. Their food, medicine, and clothing come from the forest.

The medicinal knowledge that the shamans and medicine men have in these tribes is extensive and is believed to be an untapped resource for finding cures to many diseases.

Indigenous people of the rainforest have lived in the lush rainforest for thousands of years and have passed down centuries of knowledge to each generation.

They like living simply and know that the forest provides privacy to live their own way with their own customs and language. They understand how the land provides their needs and they actively pursue what is called a sustainable way of living. They use the food and animals in the rainforest, but don't harm the delicate balance of the ecosystem to live they way they do.

Outside influences such as illness, mining, ranching, and logging are all factors in causing the eventual demise of the indigenous people and their way of living unless active measures are taken to protect them and their culture.

Once outsiders like ranchers, miners, and loggers began making inroads to the rainforest of Brazil, the indigenous people had to move their home to another part of the forest. They were driven off the land or they were taken forcibly as slaves to work the farms or in the gold mines.

How can this happen? These tribes and cultures of the rainforest have never filed deeds for the land on which they live because they believe it doesn't belong to any one person, so outsiders didn't recognize their innate right to live there and keep their land.

Sadly, as a result of outsiders coming into the rainforest and exploiting the rich resources within it, the indigenous people have sometimes been forced to move into the cities. The lifestyle in the city is completely foreign to them and so they end up living in abject poverty, trying to figure out how to live in such different surroundings.

Recent generations of indigenous people are seeing their children leaning toward the Western world's way of living as a result of being forced to live in the cities and outside of the humble means by which they came.

It's a sad fact that as the generations of these people are moving away from the knowledge of their elders and ancestors, that knowledge will soon be lost forever.

They embody the very essence of what it means to cohabitate with the land and the resources of the land without affecting it adversely. They understand how to live simply and comfortably by working the land to grow food, hunt for the purpose of food and for clothing, and they know how to use fruits, plants, and flowering species in the rainforest to cure many diseases and ailments naturally.

Scientists and agronomists are slowly beginning to understand and embrace the fact that the indigenous people living in Brazil's rainforest are not a threat to the rainforest, but rather an incredible asset to the forest and to the world as a whole. Learning from these people could very well be the key to conserving the rainforest's resources, food, and medicines.

The Yanomami tribe resides in a territory along Brazil's border shared with Venezuela. They were given nearly 94,000 square kilometers of land to call home by the government of Brazil around 1992. They live communally with one large house as the center of the village.

There is a central courtyard in which the tribe gathers for religious ceremonies and celebrations. The roof of the central house is so large that each family of the tribe builds a hearth underneath it. They sleep on simple hammocks hung around their hearth.

Unfortunately, despite a mandate to miners to leave the territory, many times they will return and take from the land mercilessly. Sometimes, members of the Yanomami tribe are killed in the process.

This unique culture is in critical danger of becoming extinct as their numbers are continuing to drop each decade. They live peaceably on the Maici River of Brazil and are considered Amazonian Indians.

Unfortunately, researchers have not been able to tap into this tribe's wealth of knowledge.

There is very little written about this tribe of Brazil. They reside in Brazil's Para State. An estimate of their population was taken in 2002 - they numbered around 3,300 at that time. There are photographs of the Kaiapo on the Internet, but nothing comprehensive has been written about their lifestyle or customs.

Many of the indigenous people of the rainforest of Brazil enjoy living simply and privately, which means there is very little written about them. These three tribes of Brazil's rainforest are a minute representation of the hundreds of tribes living within the rainforest of Brazil.

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