Located several meters below the canopy, the understory is an even
darker, stiller, and more humid environment. Plants here, such as
palms and philodendrons, are much shorter and have larger leaves than
plants that dominate the canopy. Understory plants’ large leaves catch
the minimal sunlight reaching beyond the dense canopy. Animals call
the understory home for a variety of reasons. Many take advantage of
the dimly lit environment for camouflage. The spots on a jaguar (found
in the rainforests of Central and South America) may be mistaken for
leaves or flecks of sunlight, for instance. The green mamba, one of
the deadliest snakes in the world, blends in with foliage as it
slithers up branches in the Congo rainforest. Many bats, birds, and
insects prefer the open airspace the understory offers. Amphibians,
such as dazzlingly colored tree frogs, thrive in the humidity because
it keeps their skin moist.
Jaguars
The jaguar is the second largest member of the cat family after the
tiger. Jaguars live in rainforests and other habitats in South and
Central America.Jaguars are good swimmers and hunt everything from fish
to birds to deer and domestic livestock. Jaguars are endangered due to
habitat loss (cutting down of rainforests) and hunting by people who
believe them to be pests.
