Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.7 Coatis are commonly seen in the rainforests of Costa Rica.
(Photo courtesy of
David B. Smith, Ph.D.)
Excluding humans, cats are the main predators in tropical rainforests all over
the world. They have teeth specialized for killing and eating meat. Most hunt alone
searching for small mammals, snakes, turtles, caimans, birds, fish, and insects.
Most rainforest cats are nocturnal. Seven occur in the Neotropical rainforest: the
smaller jaguarundi, oncilla, margay, and ocelot; and the larger puma, panther, and
jaguar. All range from Central America throughout South America, although the
distribution of the oncilla, a house cat-size species, is poorly known.
Neotropical Birds
Neotropical bird life is unequaled in any other part of the world. More than 1,400
species have been identified within the rainforest, with almost a third endemic to
the lowland evergreen forest.
Birds of the forest have evolved bright coloration. This allows them to blend in
with the dappled light of the upper canopy as well as the many colorful flowers and
fruits high in the forest. Parrots, macaws, toucans, and hummingbirds, to name a
few, produce vibrant colors in the canopy trees and the air above.
In the lower canopy, heat, moisture, evergreen vegetation, and abundant food
have allowed some tropical birds to develop a more sedentary lifestyle. Short,
broad wings allow birds to maneuver through the trees. Without the need to travel
long distances for food or shelter, resident birds of the understory have less need
for the slender pointed wings of some of their seasonal companions from the mid-
latitudes that winter in the rainforest.
