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Facts About the Emergent Layer of the Rain Forest

The mere mention of the rain forest may conjure up images of dense tropical foliage, but that is only one layer of the rain forest. The rain forest consists of four distinct layers: the forest floor; the understory, a shaded area filled with broadleaf plants and teeming with life; the canopy, made up of dense treetops that shade the understory and forest floor; and the emergent layer.The emergent layer is made of tall trees that extend above the canopy.

Trees
- Massive trees that may attain heights of 120 to 250 feet tower above the canopy of the rain forest. These trees typically have small waxy leaves that are able to withstand high winds and extreme heat. The kapok tree reaches a height of 150 feet and provides a home for animals and birds. The Brazil nut tree provides edible nuts and latex for rubber.
Birds
- Toucans have large, colorful bills.
  
  The emergent layer of the rain forest provides a home for birds that nest in the branches of the trees. The toucan lives in holes in trees and spends time in the emergent layer. It is known for its large bill, brightly colored feathers and noisy call. The scarlet macaw, one of the most colorful birds in the rain forest, raises its young in the emergent layer. Baby macaws stay with their mother until they are two years old. Hummingbirds and eagles also make their homes in the emergent layer.
Mammals
- Howler monkeys begin their day by howling to scare off other animals.
  
  The emergent layer provides a home for mammals such as the black-faced spider monkey. This monkey gets its name from its long arms and legs and spends most of its time in the upper canopy or the emergent layer. Spider monkeys can be black, brown or tan and live in groups of up to 35. Howler monkeys also live in the upper layers of the rain forest and begin the day by howling to keep other animals away.
Insects
- The blue morpho butterfly can be found sunning itself in the tops of trees in the emergent layer.
  
  Among the many different insects that live in the emergent layer of the rain forest, the blue morpho butterfly stands out. Its bright blue wings, spanning 5 to 8 inches, are edged with black. Although the blue morpho butterfly spends most of its time in other layers of the rain forest, it flies to the emergent layer when looking for a mate and often suns itself on the treetops.

Nature