What Kind of Animals Are Found in a Tropical Rainforest?

Primates

• The Amazon rainforest in South America, the largest in the world, harbors multiple types of primates, including endangered capuchin, tamarin and howler monkeys. The orangutan, Southeast Asia's only great ape, lives in the rainforests on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, while the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa boast the world's only bonobo population. The equatorial rainforests of Africa are also home to mangabeys and guenons. All 50 species of lemurs are found in Madagascar's rainforests.

Cats

• Several feline species inhabit rainforests, including the jaguar, whose range encompasses South America and parts of southern Mexico. Some jaguars are completely black, which allows them to roam concealed through dark forests. The rain forests of Southeast Asia are home to the clouded leopard, while the bay cat, one of the rarest feline species in the world, is native to Borneo.

Other Mammals

• The three species of anteater live in the rainforests of Central and South America. Anteaters are related to the slow-moving sloth, a herbivorous, tree-dwelling mammal found in the Amazon. The Amazon also harbors the South American tapir and the kinkajou, as well as aquatic mammals such as the Amazonian manatee, giant river otter and pink river dolphin.

  Binturongs, also known as bear cats, are found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. The sun bear, the world's smallest, inhabits the rainforests of several Asian countries.

Frogs

• The Goliath frog, the largest in the world, inhabits a small tract of rainforest that encompasses parts of Cameroon and Guinea. The bright venomous mantella frog is found only in the rainforests of Madagascar, which also harbor the sedentary tomato frog. The rainforests of Central and South America are also home to numerous species of brightly colored poison frogs, in addition to the non-venomous red-eyed tree frog.

Reptiles

• The rainforests on the island of Borneo alone are home to more than 100 species of lizards, including the Borneo bloodsucker and the five-banded gliding lizard.

  The giant Amazon river turtle, the world's largest, can weigh up to 200 pounds. The Amazon also boasts the largest snake in the world, the green anaconda, as well as the dwarf and black caimans, the smallest and largest caiman species, respectively.

Birds

• Among the most recognizable rainforest-dwelling birds is the Amazon's toucan, distinguished by its multicolored beak. Parrots are common in rainforests throughout the world, though the largest species, the hyacinth macaw, is endemic to the Amazon. Other rainforest birds include the hornbill, which occurs throughout Africa and Asia, and birds of paradise, found exclusively in New Guinea, northern Australia and nearby islands.