Hobbies And Interests
Plants
Because the tropical rain forest in Cameroon is damp and shaded by tall treetops, the vegetation has adapted to getting its nutrients from places other than the sun or rich soil, neither of which are available on the forest floor. Some plants obtain nutrition from dead plants decaying on the ground; others use vines to climb up tall trees so they can access the sun. Still others simply feed on the humid air. Plants are the primary producers in the rain forest food chain because they provide the basic level of nourishment for many animals.
Herbivores
Animals that feed strictly off vegetation, like insects, mice, bats and birds, are called herbivores. These animals, while surviving on plant life, also act as a food source for larger meat-eating predators. While some herbivores are small, like rodents and butterflies, others are larger, such as the forest elephants, okapi and gorilla.
Small Carnivores
Small snakes, frogs and some types of birds eat the rodents, insects and other herbivores supported by the rain forest vegetation. Many of these animals eat smaller herbivores, while some -- like vultures -- feed on carcasses left by larger predators.
Large Predators
Large predators like boa constrictors and jaguars feed on animal life, including everything from small carnivores to the large herbivores in their diets. In addition to eating smaller prey, larger predators also eat each other, such as a crocodile attacking a jaguar when it stops to drink from a river.