Book 17, Question 75
Why Do So Many Animals Live in the Canopy Instead of on the Ground?
So many animals live in the canopy because that is where the food and sunlight are! The treetops are full of leaves, flowers, and fruit. Many rainforest animals spend their whole lives up there.
More fun facts
- More species live in the canopy than anywhere else in the rainforest.
- Below the canopy, bats, birds and insects can fly more freely, which draws animals that hunt them.
- Some animals, like monkeys, kinkajous and opossums, live almost only in treetops.
- Scientists put camera traps high in the canopy to study these hard-to-see animals.
- When trees fall and leave gaps, canopy animals lose parts of their territory.
Sources: Smithsonian, National Geographic Kids, Smithsonian, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Questions kids ask
How do scientists study animals high in the trees?
They put camera traps high in the canopy.