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The Rainforest Floor: mammals and other interesting things.
Some mammals live exclusively on the forest floor. Tapirs
are one of the largest mammals in new world rainforests. This tapir has become
acustomed to getting some leftovers from dinner at this lodge in the Amazon,
and lets himself into the kitchen every night. |
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Agoutis are big rodents which scour the rainforest floor
looking for seeds and other good things to eat. |
In a lake in a clearing in the Amazon grow these giant
waterlilies - about eight feet across! Even thgouh you may see pictures of
people standing on these, they do have sharp spines along their bottoms, and
you could get cut up if you fell in! |
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Coatis (also called "coatimundi") search for food both in
the canopy as well as on the forest floor. |
The jaguar hunts its prey by night. Endangered, it is now
protected throughout the new world rainforests. Even for those living in the
rainforest, it is a rare treat to spot one of these shy
creatures! |
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My collection of photos of mammals who inhabit the rainforest
floor is sparse - many of them are nocturnal and extremely secretive, and, like
the jaguar, are far better at spotting us before we spot them!
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Threats to the rainforest. |
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