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Jungle Layers

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE REAS FOR TIME FOR KIDS

The rainforest is a wet, warm habitat. It’s home to many animals. There are four layers of the rainforest where these creatures live.

The highest layer is the emergent layer. It is hot and sunny up here. Birds fly from tree to tree. Animals that are good climbers find their way here too.

The next layer is the canopy. It’s filled with leaves and branches. But sunlight makes it warm. Most of the animals of the forest live here.

There is lots of shade in the understory. It’s dark and quiet. Snakes slither up tree trunks and frogs hide in the bushes.

The forest floor is the lowest layer of the forest. Ants scurry in the leaves on the ground. A jaguar goes on the prowl.