NEOTROPICAL
Cloud (Montane) Forest

When rainforest grows up into the mountains it starts to gain a lot it's moisture from condensation from clouds. Because there is a variety of altitudes across South and Central America, the Neotropics is home to a lot of this 'cloud forest'. Lower in altitude is the much hotter lowland rainforest. Where this is more seasonal you transition into deciduous forest, and higher in altitude you get the stunted 'Elfin forest'. I find the 'cloud forest' not only more pleasant and comfortable to explore, but it seems easier to see wildlife, and it often appears to reveal a larger range of colourful birds. The Andes mountain range cutting through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are particularly good regions for cloud forest, with large pristine areas, great lodges, and two parallel areas of cloud forest to explore: the eastern (Amazon) side of the Andes and the western (Pacific Ocean) side.  

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A view from the cloud forest looking down into the rainforest of the mountains and valleys, on the Manu road from the top of the Andes down to the Amazon river.

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The rainforests of tropical South and Central America have the highest diversity of plants in the world, and while the diversity is not as high at higher altitudes as it at lower altitudes, the isolated geography of mountains often results in many areas of endemism.

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Other important families in the Neotropical forests are the Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae. In the latter family are many smaller forest and edge shrubs. There are over 1000 species of Miconia alone.

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The arachnids include the spiders and scorpions. Of the spiders, the most infamous family in the Neotropics is the family Theraphosidae, which includes the true 'Tarantulas'. The are found throughout the tropics of the world, but seem most obvious, species rich and BIG in the neotropics. While there are tiny species, they are best known due to the large size and weight of many species. This size is reflected in their diet, with some species of tarantula being recorded to kill and eat reptiles, mice, bats and birds. They are not known to be deadly to humans, however, their bites can be painful.

In contrast, the Spiny-back Spiders are small but stunning spiders decorated with bright colours and spines.

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Centipedes and millipedes are long with many legs. The main difference between the two groups is that centipedes appear to have one leg per segment (on either side), while millipedes appear to have two. Centipedes are usually fast movers, and often predate on other invertebrates, while millipedes are generally slower, and feed on decaying vegetation. The former can have painful bites, while the latter have chemical defences. Millipedes tend to roll into a defensive ball when touched; centipedes shouldn't be approached, closely touched, or insulted! 

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The order Diptera includes the flies. The family Tachinidae includes over 8000 recorded species so far, and are found all over the world. They are particularly diverse in South America.

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Beetles are similar to the true bugs in their rounded appearance and their hard protective forewings that fold over the softer hindwings. However, they differ in the fact that the wings usually meet straight in the middle (to form the protective elytra) and they have efficient biting rather than sucking parts. The elytra is often shiny and produces some beautiful colours and textures. This harder layer is lifted up when the hind wings are used for flight. The high number of species of beetles is famous amongst biologists, and they are usually considered the most diverse of all animal groups.

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The great range of moths in the Neotropical rainforests can be appreciated by checking out the lighter coloured walls that are lit up in lodges at night: or even better, hang up a white sheet and light it up... 

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Perhaps the most distinctive and recognisable of the Neotropical butterflies are the...

Another distinctive and spectacular group are the 'Clearwings', with their stunning transparent wings.

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The Iguanids are the most obvious group of lizards in the Neotropical forests. The family Dactyloidae includes the Anole Lizards.

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The order Tinamiformes only contains the Tinamous. They are related to the rheas and other ratites. There are some 46 species, and they are only found in Central and South America.

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The widespread family Anatidae that contains the ducks, geese and swans, includes a fascinating species in the higher altitude Neotropical waterways called the 'Torrent Duck': an unusual duck that has adapted to swimming and diving through the waters of fast flowing rivers.

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Members of the family Cracidae (including Guans, Curassows, and Chachalaca) are often seen on the floor of the rainforest or perched on lower tree limbs on the edge.

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Hummingbirds mostly drink nectar from flowers, although they also take insects and spiders to provide other nutrients. The forked tongue is used to lap up nectar. They spend about 10% of their time feeding, the rest of the time perching. They can detect the percentage of sugar in the nectar, and usually don't drink from flowers with less than 10% sugar in their nectar. They drink about half the body weight each day, more if the nectar has lower percentages of sugar; that is like a human drinking 35 litres.

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There are four species in this distinctive genus Calliphlox, the 'Woodstars'. They are small (even for hummingbirds) and fly like giant bumblebees.

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One of the more spectacularly famous and colourful of birds in these forests are the Trogons. They sometimes sit motionless on branches, allowing some good photographs, if you can find them! They live in the rainforests of Africa, tropical Asia and the Neotropics.

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There are many groups of colourful and strange Neotropical rainforest birds...

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The family Capitonidae includes the 'New World Barbets' and the family Semnornithidae contains the 'Prong-billed' & 'Toucan Barbets'

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And of course the most famous of the Neotropical rainforest frugivores, the Toucans. There are some 40 species in this family. All species are all restricted to the Neotropics. Here, they are the New World equivalent to the Hornbills of the Old World tropics of Africa and Asia. 

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 All 436 species of 'Tyrant Flycatchers' are endemic to the Americas.

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The large family Furnariidae includes Neotropical Miners, Neotropical Leaf-tossers, Woodcreepers, Earthcreepers, Cinclodes, Foliage-cleaners, Spinetails, and many more...

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Species in the Thrush family the Turdidae are commonly seen in the cooler higher altitude forests, even around human habitations like lodges.

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'American Sparrows' of the family Passerellidae small and common.

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Some birds, like the 'Summer Tanager' (a Cardinal, not a Tanager) are seasonal migrants from North America.

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Tanagers are one of the most colourful and diverse group of birds in the Neotropical jungle. They are the second largest family of birds, with over 200 species. Many are colourful, and most are distinct enough to be easily recognisable. All the species in the Tanager are restricted to the Neotropics; many have small distributions.

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The family Cebidae contains some of the more commonly seen primates such as Capuchins and Squirrel Monkeys

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The diverse family Atelidae includes the iconic Howler, Spider & Woolly Monkeys

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The squirrels of the family Sciuridae are common in the rainforest canopy, and some come down to visit feeders.

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The Agoutis and Acouchis of the family family Dasyproctidae are mammals that are only found in South and Central America.

Places to experience the tropical American rainforest

There are so many great places (and lodges) to explore the upland cloud rainforest in the mountains of the tropical Americas. In Peru there is: Cock of the Rock Lodge. Machu Picchu, Manu National Park & Biosphere Reserve, Manu Paradise Lodge, Villa Carmen Lodge, and Wayqecha Lodge in the cloud forest. In Ecuador: Angel Paz bird reserve, Refugio Paz de Las Aves and Tandayapa Bird Lodge in the western Andes cloud forest, and Wildsumaco Lodge.