Tropical forests: characteristics, flora and fauna

To begin with, we will explain what tropical forests are with a simple definition and we will also define their main characteristics.

Tropical forests: definition

As its name suggests, tropical forests are those that are located in the tropics . However, what does that mean? Well, given the climate, geographical conditions and their location, they have specific characteristics that distinguish them from other ecosystems. On the one hand, it is hot all year round, and the humidity is usually very high. That is why tropical forests end up having vegetation and fauna similar to that of the jungle, with great biodiversity and richness.

As we have already said, tropical forests are located at the equator and its nearby areas. There are different types depending on the specific area of ​​the planet, for example, there are some of the driest, such as the Peruvian, and others of more humid, such as the monsoon. However, they tend to be very humid, with rainfall ranging from 750 mm per year to 2,000 mm. Temperatures tend to be high throughout the year and, although some types can drop in winter, freezing temperatures are never reached.

You can learn more about the climate of tropical forests , here we tell you what the tropical climate is and its characteristics in this other post from AgroCorrn.

Tropical forests: main characteristics

Here we will talk about the main characteristics of tropical forests:

• Due to their vegetation, these forests generate enormous amounts of oxygen.
• They are great heat absorbers, so they help maintain the global temperature of the planet.
• They act as protectors of the hydrographic basins in which they are located.
• They help prevent pollution by storing 50% of the planet’s CO2, which is stored in plants.
• They are authentic animal reserves, since they have perfect conditions for them to develop their lives. In turn, they are a perfect refuge for many migratory animals. For all this, in tropical forests we find half of the species that are on Earth.
• They act as a protector of the soil against precipitation.

Here below you can see its location with a map of the tropical forests .

In the previous section we have already said that there are different types of tropical forests , below we will talk in detail about them:

Dry tropical forest

The dry tropical forest is one that suffers dry seasons during which much evaporation occurs and whose vegetation must adapt to aridity. In these months, the landscape changes, leaving aside the exuberance and enhancing the more arid vegetation, for example, the grasslands.

These forests appear in those tropical zones in which there is an alternation between rainy seasons and dry seasons. During the latter, the trees drop their leaves and adapt to the new weather. Normally, these forests have a rainfall of less than 2000 mm, and may not exceed 1000 mm.

Tropical rain forests

The tropical rainforests, which are popularly known as tropical forests, unlike the previous ones, do not have dry seasons. In this type of tropical forest there is a very extensive and exuberant vegetation, so much so that only 2% of the sunlight reaches the ground. In the tropical rain forest, as its name suggests, there is a large amount of precipitation. Normally they exceed 2000 mm per year, and in some regions it can reach 10,000 mm, making it very difficult to establish a dry or rainy season. Similarly, temperatures remain stable throughout the year, hovering between 12 and 26 degrees Celsius.

Monsoon rain forest

The monsoon tropical forest, also known under the name of monsoon forest is a type of tropical forest that combines a very rainy season with a very dry season of very similar weather. That is why certain trees lose their leaves if the dry season is especially severe. Precipitation in this type of forest is around 2000 mm per year. It is for all this that the monsoon tropical forest is considered as a transition forest between the dry and rainy tropical forest.

Unlike the rainy one, the many trees lose their leaves but, in turn, unlike the dry one, the forest always stays green because the lower layers continue to grow. Likewise, in this type of forest there is a great variety of plant and animal species, only surpassed by the variety of rain forests.

Tropical flood forest

Unlike those we have explained so far, this type of tropical forest does not occur on land, where the soil drains well, but occurs in permanently or almost permanently flooded areas. This means that there is less plant diversity, since not all trees resist so much water, but they do attract many more mammals. These are the types of tropical flood forest :

• Flooded jungle: it is a type of jungle located in a plain that during the rainy season, when the rivers rise, is flooded.
• Swampy jungle: it is always, or almost always, covered by water.
• Mangrove: occurs in intertidal zones of tropical coasts.

We also advise you to read these other articles on Why is the conservation of tropical forests important and on the different types of forests .

As we have been repeating throughout the article, the conjunction between a warm climate throughout the year as well as the high humidity makes tropical forests areas where life is totally exuberant. In these forests we can find more than 15 million different species, which undoubtedly makes them some of the world’s most diverse areas.

An example of this is that in tropical forests there are 2/3 of the world’s flowers . Taking into account the number of species that we can find, it is not surprising that there is also a great variety. There are areas of the tropical forest in which, in just one hectare, we can find more than 100 trees of different species. There are all types of them, some with larger leaves, others with defenses against predators, some with larger growth, and all with a single objective: to be able to survive. Since there are a huge number of trees and many are huge, there is a lot of competition for access to sunlight. In fact, only 2% of this light reaches the ground , so there is great competition for access between the vegetation that does not reach that high.

Among the most characteristic flora of the tropical forest we find:

• Bananas
• Orchids
• Poinsettia.
• Rubber tree.
• Bromeliad
• Cocoa.
• Heliconia.

If we take into account that there is a clear relationship between the amount of rainfall and the species that inhabit a specific area, we can already establish that in tropical forests there are a large number and variety of animals. Something curious is that, given the power of the root systems of the trees in these areas of the world, they raise the water to the highest point, and thanks to this there are many animals that live in the heights without having to go down to the ground.

On the other hand, there are other animals that do lead their lives on land, where they seek food. The high levels of humidity in tropical forests make these areas very suitable for a large number of insects to inhabit them . Beetles that feed on tree sap, butterflies that take nectar from flowers, spiders that build large webs, or termites that destroy trunks. But although insects are a large part of the fauna of the tropical forest , we cannot stop talking about the following groups of animals that also inhabit it.

Reptile animals of tropical forests

In tropical forests also live a large number and diversity of animals that belong to the group of reptiles:

• Snakes
• Lizards.
• Turtles
• Crocodiles

Amphibians of tropical forests

Among the amphibians that constitute part of the fauna of the tropical forest are:

• Frogs
• Toads.
• Salamanders
• Tritons.
• Cecilias.

Tropical forest birds

In tropical forests we can find more than 25,000 different birds that are divided between predators and herbivores or frugivores. Some more characteristic examples are:

• Hawks
• Vultures
• Harpy eagle.
• Parrots
• Toucans
• Cuckoos.
• Hummingbirds

Mammals of tropical forests

Many mammals live in tropical forests, which can live on the ground or high up in trees. For example, primates and apes often live in trees and can eventually descend to the ground. On the other hand, rodents often build burrows in the ground. Other fauna of the forest animals are:

• Tiger.
• Panther.
• Porcupine
• Anteater.
• Bat.
• Rats
• Antelope.

After knowing all this information about these tropical biomes , here below you can see the photos of these animals and below a gallery of images of tropical forests .