The
rainforest canopy has one of the highest biodiversities in the world.
Insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals share this living
space with an unbelievable number of plants, in their battle for the
light constantly striving for the highest heights. Yet one must look
very closely to discover any of its wildlife. |
Slowly
the caterpillar of the Shag Carpet Moth crawls on a blade of grass to
its hiding place. Even if its bright colors and striking form and its
poison- soaked hair prevents attacks by their predators, its best
defensive strategy still remains hiding under leaves and trees. |
Thundering
water pours out over the cliffs of the Iguazú, which has been steadily
digging in the floor of the rainforest for millions of years. The
forces that have shaped this landscape are still going strong. Every
year the falls move 3mm upstream. In another million years there will
be only a wide valley that the Iguazu flows through. |
The
Red Macaw with its rainbow coloured plumage is probably one of the most
colourful inhabitants of the canopy in the South and Middle American
rainforest. This sociable parrot lives with groups of almost 20
animals, leaving their groups only for the duration of brood breeding.
Macaws are monogamous and remain together for a lifetime. |
Surrounded
by a thousand tons of green vegetation and accompanied by the murmur of
the rainforest, a stream winds through the Mulu National Park in North
Borneo. But with the monsoon season setting in the gentle rippling of a
stream forms a thundering boom of a raging river and bulks of water
wash away all the path and everything else that stands in its way. |
With
the first light of day the Iguana climbs to the top of the tree canopy.
The morning sun shines on the skin of the reptile, warming it up from
the coldness of the night. With temperatures increasing, the
archaic-looking dragon embarks on a quest for food: leaves, flowers and
fruits. |
A
seemingly impenetrable green wall grows there, where a giant tree has
fallen and knocked a clearing in the forest. Grasses and ferns have
already covered the ground and the remains of the giant fallen tree.
The shoots of young trees and vines grow in their race for the most
light from the sky. Contrary to this, soon the emerging plants in the
clearing will be covered with the risen thicket again. |
Towards
the morning a group of Silver Lutungs move along the deep thicket at
the edge of the rainforest. Here´s where the vegetation is less dense
and the trees bare tasty leaves and fruits, the group will remain there
and eat until around noon. Later, the heat of the sun will drive them
back into the cooling shade of the rainforest. |
Over
the entire history of the earth, there were ferns in the
rainforest. Especially the way they propagate shows how much they
differ from other higher growing plants: In dry weather, ferns clench
their spores rip the capsule on the underside of leaves, and hurl them
out. A Protonema, in which male and female organs are formed and the
sperm fertilizes the eggs of the female which forms the actual fern. |
Just
two centimeters long is the Strawberry Poison Dart Frog. Unlike other
species of frogs, the males and the females care for their brood
together. The female lays the eggs inside a Bromeliad where the male
fertilizes the eggs and it ensures they do not dry out. Once the
offspring has reached the larval stage, the female carries the tadpoles
on their backs to suitable waters where they can fully develop. |
The
510 square kilometer area of the Ankasa National Park is located in
Southwest Ghana. Its flora and fauna provides a unique spectrum of the
West African rainforest. There are about 600 different species of
butterflies, but the jungle elephant can also be seen here. The most
spectacular representation of flora is the Ankasa Bamboo Cathedral
which is roughly 20 meters high and has a 1500 square meter natural
Hall. Its roofing is formed by the dense vegetation of bamboo. |
Few
would think that crabs are inhabitants in a rainforest. But near the
coast of the rainforest you will frequently find the Red Land Crab as
an inhabitant. They spend their days underground for protection, but
after nightfall they search the undergrowth for food. Only the female
goes back to the sea for the egg-laying process. |
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