Tropical rainforests of South America
The rain or moist tropical forests of South America are in front of you. There is almost no seasonality in this part of the Earth. The daytime temperature is around thirty degrees above zero and at night it is around twenty degrees above zero during the whole year. Rains are regular and heavy. Such climatic conditions are the most favorable for development of both plant and animal life. The appearance of the rain tropical forest is unique. Look, other plants grow at the branches and trunks of the trees. These are the air plants. They do not harm the host tree getting water and nutrients from the soil, which is gradually formed of the falling remnants of plants between their roots.
The animals of the American tropical forest are not similar to the dwellers of the African tropics, and those in their turn – to the dwellers of the Asian or Australian forest. It is connected with historical factors, such as appearance or extinction of natural barriers. The water area at the place of the present Isthmus of Panama was such a barrier in due time. The animals of Southern America were isolated, as a result of which there are the groups of animals, which are not present in other mainlands. The most vivid example is the order Edentata. The sloth, anteaters and armadillos belong to it. Please, find a sloth in the left part of the showcase.
The sloth conducts almost all its life suspended, slowly moving on the branches of the trees and eats leaves. The green algae settle in the sloth’s hair very often, that is why it acquires the greenish tint, which is invisible at the background of leaves. The anteater is in the opposite part of the showcase. It destroys an anthill or termite nest with its powerful claws and gets insects with the help of its long thin and sticky tongue, which is longer than a half of a meter.
Please, find a tapir.
This is the largest animal of South America, which is a relative of rhinoceros. The family Didelphidae is near it. Look: the opossum babies are in the pouch on the mother’s belly. The opossum is the only representative of marsupials living outside Australia. It has an interesting means of protection from the predators. The wounded or very scared opossum falls to the ground and pretends to be dead, its eyes are glazed over, foam flows from the mouth, and anal glands emit secretion with disgusting smell. Having muzzled the unmovable body, the chaser always goes away. The typical dwellers of South America are tiny monkeys: the tamarin – on the tree on the left and the marmoset – on the tree on the right. The capybara or caprincho, which is the largest representative of the order Rodentia, is in the center of the showcase. The macaws, which are the largest parrots in the world, live in these forests as well; they are represented by two species in the showcase. The toucans, which are very noisy, curious birds, can be met very often. You will recognize them by their huge beaks. Such beak helps them to pick up fruit from the thin branches.
Then you will find out about the dwellers of the Asian moist tropical forest. Please, go forward to showcase number eighteen.
Download the free izi.TRAVEL app
Create your own audio tours!
Use of the system and the mobile guide app is free