Forest
Wooded areas with significant tree cover and diverse plant and animal communities.
Animals of the Forest
Species recorded in this habitat.
Amazon River Dolphin
Inia geoffrensis
The Amazon River Dolphin, also known as the Pink Dolphin, is a freshwater cetacean native to the river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. Its most distinctive feature is its pink coloration, which intensifies with age and during periods of excitement. These dolphins have long, slender beaks and flexible necks, allowing them to navigate through flooded forests with ease. Exceptionally intelligent, they use echolocation to hunt for fish, crustaceans, and even small turtles. Despite their mystical reputation among local cultures, Amazon River Dolphins face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and accidental capture in fishing gear.
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher
Onychorhynchus coronatus
The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is a small, insectivorous bird best known for its spectacular fan-shaped crest, which is vividly colored and usually displayed during courtship or when threatened. This bird inhabits the humid lowland forests and river edges of the Amazon Basin, often remaining inconspicuous as it forages for insects. With olive-brown upperparts and yellowish underparts, its remarkable crest—red in males and yellow to orange in females—remains mostly hidden except during displays. The species builds long, hanging nests suspended over water to protect its young from predators. Despite its striking appearance, the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is seldom seen due to its secretive habits and preference for dense forest undergrowth.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
The Andean Cock-of-the-rock is an iconic bird native to the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in South America. Renowned for the male's bright orange plumage and prominent fan-shaped crest, this species displays extraordinary courtship rituals in communal leks. Females are more subdued in coloration, allowing them to blend into the dense forest understory as they care for their young. The Andean Cock-of-the-rock is considered the national bird of Peru and is an important symbol of Andean biodiversity.
Atlas Beetle
Chalcosoma atlas
The Atlas Beetle is one of the largest and most impressive beetles in the world, recognized for its three prominent horns on males. Native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, this beetle is a member of the rhinoceros beetle group and exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with males being much larger and more heavily armored than females. The Atlas Beetle spends the majority of its life as a larva, feeding on decaying wood, before emerging as an adult to search for mates. Adult beetles are known for their strength, capable of lifting objects up to several times their own body weight.
Atlas moth caterpillar
Attacus atlas
The Atlas moth caterpillar is the larval stage of the Atlas moth, one of the largest moth species in the world. These caterpillars are strikingly pale green to bluish-green, adorned with white, waxy spines along their bodies and a plump, segmented appearance. They feed voraciously on the leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs, storing up nutrients for their dramatic transformation into adult moths. Native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, the Atlas moth caterpillar plays a vital role in the life cycle of this iconic invertebrate.
Aye-aye
Daubentonia madagascariensis
The aye-aye is a unique nocturnal primate native to the rainforests of Madagascar. It is distinguished by its large eyes, bushy tail, and especially its elongated, thin middle finger, which it uses to tap on wood and extract insects—a method called percussive foraging. With rodent-like incisors that grow continuously, the aye-aye gnaws into wood to access insect larvae, making it the only primate known to use echolocation-like techniques for finding food. Despite its unusual appearance, the aye-aye plays a crucial ecological role in controlling insect populations. Its secretive and solitary lifestyle, combined with habitat loss, has contributed to its rarity and threatened status.
Aye-aye Leech
Chtonobdella ayeaye
The Aye-aye leech (Chtonobdella ayeaye) is a rare terrestrial blood-feeding leech discovered in the rainforests of Madagascar. This unique invertebrate is notable for its association with the aye-aye lemur, from which it is believed to commonly feed. Unlike many aquatic leeches, the Aye-aye leech has adapted to a primarily arboreal and terrestrial lifestyle, using its muscular body to move through leaf litter and up trees. Its presence is considered an indicator of healthy, undisturbed rainforest ecosystems.
Babirusa
Babyrousa celebensis
The Babirusa is a unique wild pig native to the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula, and Buru. It is instantly recognizable by the remarkable upward-curving tusks of the males, which can grow through the skin of the snout and curve back toward the forehead. Babirusas inhabit tropical rainforests, swamps, and riverine forests, often near water sources. They are omnivorous, feeding on a mix of fruits, leaves, roots, and small animals. Due to habitat loss and hunting, their populations are declining, and many species are classified as vulnerable or endangered.
Banded Linsang
Prionodon linsang
The banded linsang is a small, slender, and elusive carnivorous mammal native to Southeast Asia. It is distinguished by its long, narrow body, elongated snout, and striking black bands and spots on its creamy yellowish fur. The banded linsang is nocturnal and arboreal, spending much of its time hunting for prey in the dense forests. Its secretive nature and excellent camouflage make it rarely seen in the wild. Banded linsangs are solitary animals and are considered one of the most graceful climbers among small carnivores.
Basilisk Lizard
Basiliscus basiliscus
The Basilisk Lizard, often called the 'Jesus Christ Lizard', is a striking reptile native to the rainforests of Central and South America. It is famed for its ability to run across the surface of water for short distances, thanks to specialized fringes on its toes. This agile lizard is green or brownish with a distinctive crest on its head and back, especially prominent in males. Basilisk Lizards are diurnal and arboreal, spending much of their time in trees near water sources.
Binturong
Arctictis binturong
The Binturong, also known as the bearcat, is a large, arboreal mammal native to the dense forests of Southeast Asia. Despite its nickname, it is neither a bear nor a cat, but a member of the Viverridae family, related to civets and genets. Binturongs have thick, coarse black fur, a prehensile tail, and a distinctively musky scent reminiscent of buttered popcorn. These nocturnal omnivores spend much of their time in the treetops, using their tails for balance and grasping branches. Due to habitat loss and hunting, Binturongs are classified as Vulnerable in the wild.
Black Lemur
Eulemur macaco
The Black Lemur is a striking primate endemic to the northwestern tip of Madagascar and neighboring islands. Males are entirely black, while females are brown with white ear tufts, making them easily distinguishable by sex. These medium-sized lemurs are highly social and live in groups, primarily inhabiting tropical forests. Black Lemurs are arboreal, spending most of their lives in the tree canopy, and are known for their playful and curious nature. Their populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting, rendering them vulnerable in the wild.
Other habitats
Polar RegionsArctic
Cold, frozen landscapes around the North Pole with specialized wildlife adapted to extreme cold.
Polar and Subpolar RegionsTundra
Cold, treeless regions with permafrost supporting specialized cold-adapted wildlife.
Various Continental RegionsGrassland
Open areas dominated by grasses rather than trees, supporting numerous herbivores and their predators.
Tropical RegionsRainforest
Dense, wet forests with the highest biodiversity on Earth, containing more than half of the world's plant and animal species.
Arid RegionsDesert
Arid lands with minimal rainfall, extreme temperatures, and specialized wildlife adapted to harsh conditions.
GlobalFreshwater
Lakes, rivers, and wetlands with diverse aquatic ecosystems.