JUNGLES

WHAT IS A JUNGLE?A jungle is land covered with dense vegetation dominated by trees.

ETYMOLOGYThe word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala, translating in uncultivated land.

DENSE VEGETATIONOne of the most common meanings of jungle is land overgrown with tangled vegetation at ground level, especially in the tropics.

DENSE VEGETATIONThe vegetation is sufficiently dense to hinder movement by humans, requiring that travellers cut their way through.

This definition draws a distinction between rainforest and jungle, since the understorey of rainforests is typically open of vegetation due to a lack of sunlight, and hence relatively easy to traverse.

JUNGLE ANIMALSA complete list of jungle animals would take you weeks to read, since there are millions of animals living in the world’s jungles. About half of all the animal species on earth—mammals, birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles—would be on that list of jungle animals.

LIST OF JUNGLE ANIMALS IN THE AMAZONTop Predators: Jaguars, Cougars, OcelotsLargest Animal: The TapirRodent: Capybara (The World’s Largest Rodent!)Reptiles: Anaconda, Bushmaster (poisonous snake) and Caimans (several species; the largest is the black caiman)Amphibians: Poison Dart FrogsBirds: Harpy Eagle, Macaws (including the scarlet macaw and the hyacinth macaw)Primates: Spider monkeys, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeysFish: PiranhaInsect: Leaf-Cutter Ant

LIST OF JUNGLE ANIMALS IN AFRICATop Predator: The LeopardLarge Animals: The Jungle Elephant, The OkapiReptiles: Rock Python, Nile Crocodile, Mambas (several species of poisonous snakes)Birds: Gray Parrot, Crowned EaglePrimates: Chimpanzees, Bonobos, Gorillas, Mandrills, Baboons, Colobus Monkeys, Bush BabiesFish: Tiger FishInsect: Termite

LIST OF JUNGLE ANIMALS IN ASIATop Predators: The Tiger, The LeopardBears: Sun Bear, Sloth BearBat: Flying Fox (Fruit-Eating Bat)Largest Animals: Sumatran Rhinoceros, Elephant, Water BuffaloBirds: Cockatoo, Black EagleReptiles: Saltwater Crocodile, Burmese Python, Cobra (several species)Primates: Orangutan, Gibbons, Macaque Monkeys, Langur Monkeys, TarsiersFish: Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)