Jungle Animals | 20 Animals that Live in the Jungle and Their Interesting Facts
The jungle provides a home to some of the planet’s biggest, most formidable, and extraordinary creatures, facilitated by its warm climate and dense foliage. Vines, grasses, moss, and shrubs blanket the entire expanse, creating a hazardous environment even for the resident jungle animals. In this article, we’ll explore a comprehensive list of jungle animals along with intriguing facts about each of them.
Jungle Animals
List of Jungle Animals
Some animals found in the jungle are:
- Orangutan
- One-Horned Rhino
- Leopard
- Jaguar
- Asiatic Lion
- Tapir
- Chimpanzee
- Sloth Bear
- Bengal Tiger
- Lazy Bear
- Toucan
- Gorilla
- Three-Toad Sloth
- Lemur
- Tiger
- Black Howler Monkey
- Armadillo
- Madagascar
- Red-Eyed Frog
- Emerald Boa
- Macaw
Jungle Creatures and Interesting Details
Orangutan
These jungle creatures boast lengthy, robust arms and powerful feet with sizable toes, enabling them to effortlessly ascend trees and move between them. Orangutans are known for their affinity for eating, sleeping, and reproducing.
One-Horned Rhino
Also recognized as the Indian Rhinoceros, this species ranks second in size only to elephants. Indigenous to South East Asia and South Asia, there are currently a mere two thousand remaining in the wild. Despite their dwindling numbers, conservationists have taken measures to safeguard these rhinos.
Leopard
Also referred to as panthers, these animals share close kinship with tigers, jaguars, and lions. Distinguished by their varying sizes, markings, and coat colors, leopards exhibit exceptional climbing abilities and have a diet that includes small rodents, deer, antelopes, and baboons. Certain subspecies of leopards have experienced a decline in population over the years, prompting protective measures.
Tapir
Resembling pigs in shape but distinct with their trunks, tapirs are herbivorous mammals, related to both rhinoceroses and horses. Their trunks aid in grasping branches and plucking fruits from trees. Tapirs are known for their hearty appetites and play a crucial role in dispersing seeds as they move around the forest and excrete the seeds through their feces.
Bengal Tiger
Renowned for their robustness, agility, and power, Bengal Tigers are among the most sought-after animals in the jungle, with their population gradually decreasing over time. Commonly referred to as Indian tigers, they hold significant importance in Indian folklore and traditions. Their diet includes buffalo, wild pigs, deer, and other large mammals. Bengal Tigers are known for their remarkable speed when launching surprise attacks on their prey.
Lemur
These creatures possess bodies reminiscent of monkeys and foxes, featuring large eyes, bushy tails, and elongated hind limbs. Their eye-rings, known as crown patches, are a distinctive feature. Lemurs exhibit heightened sensitivity in low-light conditions compared to their daytime vision. Often found atop trees, they feed on insects, small birds, fruits, leaves, and buds.
Armadillo
Characterized by a bony plate covering their back, legs, head, and tail, armadillos boast robust, impenetrable shells that serve as protection against predators.
Armadillos excavate burrows and tend to spend most of their day sleeping. These creatures typically forage during the early morning, favoring ants, termites, beetles, and various other insects as their primary source of sustenance. Despite their poor eyesight, armadillos possess a strong sense of smell, which they rely on for hunting and locating food.
Emerald Boa
These reptiles inhabit trees, bushes, and areas adjacent to swamps. Emerald Boas exhibit a preference for consuming squirrels, monkeys, rodents, bats, birds, and lizards. With the potential to grow beyond seven feet in length, they can live for up to twenty years.