Rainforest Layers: Lists with Commas

Four Layers of the Rainforest

1Tropical rainforests grow in warm places near the equator. Some of the biggest rainforests are in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Rain falls there often, so the air feels warm and damp. Many scientists describe a rainforest as having four layers. From top to bottom, they are the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. Each layer gets a different amount of sunlight, and each one is home to different living things.

2The emergent layer is made up of a few giant trees that grow taller than all the others. Their tops poke out above the rest of the forest like islands in a green sea. Up here, the trees get bright sun, strong wind, and heavy rain. Eagles build nests in the high branches, and some butterflies flutter in the sunshine.

3Below the emergent layer is the canopy. The leaves and branches of many trees grow close together here and form a leafy roof over the forest. Many of the rainforest's animals live in this layer. Toucans, parrots, monkeys, and sloths find food among the branches. Flowers, fruits, and nuts grow high in the canopy, so there is plenty to eat. Some of these animals almost never climb down to the ground.

4The understory lies under the canopy. It is shady, warm, and damp. Down here, little sunlight gets through, so many plants have very large leaves. Big leaves help them catch as much light as they can. Young trees, shrubs, and ferns grow in the shade. Frogs and snakes hide among the leaves. The jaguar, a big spotted cat, sometimes rests on the low branches.

5The forest floor is the lowest layer. It is so dark that few plants can grow there. Leaves, fruit, and branches fall from above and cover the ground. Fungi, worms, and insects break down this fallen material and return its nutrients to the soil. From the sunny treetops to the dark ground below, every layer of the rainforest is full of life.