Layers of the Rainforest

There are four layers to the rainforest There are four layers to the rainforest. Each layer has its own set of environmental conditions. Each layer also has its own set of animals, plants, and insects that live there.

Emergent Layer Canopy Layer Understory Layer Forest Floor

The Emergent Layer The tallest trees are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around.  Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here.  They are exposed to the greatest amount of wind and rain. Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats, snakes, and butterflies.

The Canopy Layer This is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers.   Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point Many animals live in this area since there is a lot of food such as flowers and fruits.   Those animals include: monkeys, snakes, toucans, bats, ants, parrots, hummingbirds, and tree frogs.

The Understory Layer Little sunshine reaches this area, so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.  There are some flowers and fruits that grow on the trunks of the trees. Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs, snakes, parakeets, and leopards.  There is the largest concentration of insects here.

The Forest Floor It's very dark down here.  Almost no plants grow in this area.  Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly. This causes the forest floor to be made up of organic matter. Giant anteaters live in this layer… Insects, including termites, cockroaches, beetles, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions and earthworms, along with the fungi, use the organic litter as a source of food.

The End… marmosets