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The tropical rainforest is home to many animals and plants as well as playing an important role in the Earth's ecology. It's the plants that are found in the tropical rainforest that are responsible for much of the oxygen that is produced on the planet. Many of the plants in the rainforest are also important in the fight against disease due to their healing properties.

There are many animals that are unique to the rainforest and they can't be found anywhere else on the planet. One of these rainforest creatures is the Brazilian Tapir. This mammal is only found in certain areas in South America. It feeds mainly on small branches and leaves. The Tapir is considered harmless to man since it has a natural fear of anything larger than it. It always lives near the water, spending much of its time diving and swimming in the ponds and lakes that can be found in the tropical rainforest.

There are also many varieties of birds to be found in the rainforest. One such bird is the Crested Guan, which can be found on the northern tip of South America. This bird lives in the tall trees of the rainforest and lives off of the seeds and fruits that are available on the floor of the tropical rainforest.

In addition to the many bird species, the tropical rainforest is host to a variety of reptiles. One particular reptile found in the forest of Indonesia and the Philippines is called the Flying Dragon. The Flying Dragon earned its name because he seems to fly from one tree to another by using his skin flaps like wings. This reptile's preferred diet consists of eating ants and other insects. The Flying Dragon buries its eggs in fertile soil for breeding.

The Slow Loris is another animal that is unique to the tropical rainforest. This animal will spend most of his day in the tops of trees sleeping quietly. At night you'll find him feeding on shoots and leaves, small birds, bird's eggs, and insects that he finds on the ground. The Loris is a very slow mover but you'll rarely see him stumble as he makes his way from tree top to the forest floor. You might even see him hanging upside down from his feet.

A visit to the tropical rainforest wouldn't be complete without a few sightings of some of the snakes found only in this unique environment. One such snake is the Vine Snake, which can be found in central and northern South America. This snake prefers to eat small birds that it steals from nests or lizards that it finds on the ground and in the trees of the forest. The Vine Snakes name derives from the snakes appearance - a very thin snake (approximately half inch in diameter), which will stop what its doing when frightened by predator and hang from the trees, swaying from side to side. This hanging appearance looks much like the vines that are so common in this part of the rainforest.

Besides these the tropical rainforest is filled with numerous native animals. The tropical rainforest is a beautiful environment which at times could get harsh. As a result many of these animals have specific features to deal with and survive in these harsh conditions. The wonders of this rainforest, information about plants and animals continues to amaze us day by day as it is revealed.

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Furia Andress is the owner and operator of Furia Tropical, the web's premier resource for information about all things tropical, For questions or comments about this article visit: www.furiatropical.com/articles
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Animals of the Tropical Rainforest

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