Ocelots in the Rainforest By Stephanie

Introduction Rainforests in the world are important to us. There are four layers in the rainforests. They’re all located in Southern Asia, South America, and the Pacific Islands. They all are near the equator. There are many plants and animals in rainforests. That’s why rainforests are important.

Forest Floor and Understory The forest floor and the understory are the two lowest layers. The forest floor is important for its plants and there are larger animals there too. The understory has more light. Its also the second layer.

Canopy and Emergent Layers The canopy and emergent layers are the two top layers. The canopy is the top. There are huge amounts of insects living there. There are plants and life too! The emergent layer is the highest layer.

Products and Supplies We get many supplies from the rainforest. Some food we get are lemons and oranges. We also get chocolate and vanilla. The rainforest also gives us gum. The rainforests are important to us.

Introduction and Appearance My animal is a small wild cat called an Ocelot. It’s a skinny, yellow furred cat with a ringed tail. Ocelots have spots that go down their back called chains. That’s all ocelots look like.

Habitat Many ocelots live where plants grow. They live in South America and Central America. Ocelots climb to the understory to hunt for food to eat. They go to the understory to hunt animals that live there like monkeys.

Diet Ocelots eat many animals but no plants. They hunt mice, rats, fish, turtles, monkeys and birds. Before eating birds ocelots pluck the feathers off of the bird. They pluck the feathers with its teeth and claws.

Predators and Preys Ocelots are endangered for their fur. People use their fur for coats. It’s been a illegal to kill ocelots since 1972. Ocelots are also endangered because people keep them as pets.

Adaptations Ocelots have giant eyes to see in the dark and to hunt prey. Ocelots need their big eyes because they hunt in the night. They also have claws to help them hunt too!

Interesting Facts Something interesting is that if ocelots lose their homes they can’t have babies. Ocelots also sharpen their claws on trees. Also ocelots hunt in the night and sleep in the day.