Forests
Forests occupy one third of the Earth’s land area, yet incredibly house around 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, from birds and mammals to amphibians and invertebrates. There are many different types of forest around the world, with temperature, rainfall and soil composition all determining which type will grow in a particular area.
Forest species
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Adder (Vipera berus)
The adder (Vipera berus) is an extremely widespread reptile, and is the UK’s only venomous snake. As…
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American black bear (Ursus americanus)
With a population double that of all other bear species combined, the American black bear is by far…
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American robin (Turdus migratorius)
Described as “America’s favourite songbird” , the American robin (Turdus migratorius) is one of the…
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Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
The ash is one of our tallest native trees. It has a fairly open crown, becoming oval or spherical…
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Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Instantly recognisable as the national emblem of the United States, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus…
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Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica)
As the common name suggests, beefsteak fungus is remarkably similar in appearance to raw meat. In…
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Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
The bluebell, popularly thought of as Britain's national flower , is a bulbous spring flowering…
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Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Owing its common name to its short ‘bobbed’ tail , the bobcat (Lynx rufus) has the widest…
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Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is one of only two species of orangutan, which together are…
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Brazil-nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa)
A particularly distinctive species because of its towering height , the Brazil-nut tree is widely…
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Brazilian salmon pink tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana)
One of the largest arachnid species, the Brazilian salmon pink tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana) is…
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Cerambyx longicorn (Cerambyx cerdo)
This large and beautiful beetle is among the largest of the European beetle species . It has an…
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Dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
Often said to be the most alluring of all frog species, the dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates…
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Emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator)
Arguably the most charismatic of the tamarins, the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) is a small…
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Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)
One of the largest rodents in the world , the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is also one of the most…
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Forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
These forest-dwelling elephants are smaller and darker than their savanna relatives and have smaller…
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Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
The giant otter, known through much of its range as the 'river wolf', is one of South America's top…
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Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is universally admired for its appealing markings and…
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Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
The giant sequoia is world-renowned as one of the largest living things on the planet, and these…
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Grey wolf (Canis lupus)
The world’s largest wild canid, the iconic grey wolf (Canis lupus) has been a source of both fear…
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Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the world's most threatened species of cat , and is currently…
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Jaguar (Panthera onca)
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest cat of the Americas and a formidable predator. Its common…
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Kakapo (Strigops habroptila)
The kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is a Critically Endangered, giant, nocturnal parrot. It is a…
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King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
The longest of all living venomous snakes, the magnificent king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has been…
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of Australia’s most iconic animals, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is bear-like in…
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Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest lizard in the world , and with its ancient…
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Lemur leaf frog (Hylomantis lemur)
A highly threatened amphibian from Central America, the lemur leaf frog (Hylomantis lemur) has a…
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Mediterranean chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)
Due to its amazing ability to change colour, the Mediterranean chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) can…
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Military macaw (Ara militaris)
A popular cage bird, the military macaw’s wild population is rapidly diminishing as more and more…
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Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
One of the best-known butterfly species, the beautiful monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is…
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Moose (Alces americanus)
Together with its close relative the Eurasian elk (Alces alces), the moose (Alces americanus) is the…
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Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
The closest living relative to the dodo , the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) looks very…
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Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)
Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about the okapi is that it was not known to science until 1901…
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Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is the world's largest eagle, and one of the most…
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Pine marten (Martes martes)
The elusive, generally nocturnal pine marten (Martes martes) has chestnut-brown to dark brown fur…
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Purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)
The sole surviving member of an ancient group of amphibians that evolved some 130 million years ago…
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Red bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra)
Taking its name from the elongated train of glossy red feathers in the tail, the male red…
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Red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani)
The red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani) is a medium-sized blue-black terrestrial salamander…
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Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
Known as caribou in North America, the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is a charismatic and hardy…
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Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis)
The Rodrigues flying fox gained its name because of its fox like large pointed ears, elongated snout…
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Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
Like other oak trees, the sessile oak (Quercus petraea) has a special place in culture and folklore…
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Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)
The smallest species of the Lepus genus, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is a rabbit-sized…
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Spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis)
The spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis) is a dark, stocky bird of coniferous forests in the…
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Striped civet (Fossa fossana)
The striped civet (Fossa fossana) is a Malagasy civet, which is sufficiently different to the civets…
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Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)
The smallest and by far the most common of the Petaurus gliders , the sugar glider is a small…
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Suriname toad (Pipa pipa)
A distinctive South American amphibian, the Suriname toad (Pipa pipa) is one of seven species within…
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White seraya (Parashorea malaanonan)
Dipterocarpaceae trees dominate tropical lowland rainforests in Southeast Asia and consist of many…
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White-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar)
A beautiful and captivating primate, the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) is a master of agility…
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Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
A brightly coloured and distinctively patterned bird, the wood duck (Aix sponsa) is considered to be…
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Woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis)
The only species in its genus , the woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) is a small rodent…
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