Jungle Animals
Predators such as tigers, Asian wild dogs, and reticulated pythons; herbivores such as forest antelopes, Sumatran rhinos, and tapirs; birds such as hornbills, macaws, and toucans; and aquatic animals like piranhas are among the jungle creatures.
Primates are some of the most well-known jungle animals. Many monkey and ape species, including our closest cousins in the animal kingdom: bonobos, chimps, and gorillas, live in the thick forests.
A detailed list of fascinating jungle creatures, along with images, facts, and further information can be found on this page
What Is A Jungle?
A thick, tangled undergrowth characterizes a jungle. Tropical jungles may be found all across the globe. Jungles are renowned for their high biodiversity and diversity of plant and animal species, despite the fact that they are hazardous to humans.
Several of the animals listed below can be found in India and other Asian nations’ jungles, which originated in India. Jungle creatures from Africa, Australia, and South America are also included on the list. To locate animals that live in jungles in each of these locations, utilize the page index below.
Jungle Animals List
Listed below are many different animals that live in jungles. What’s your favorite jungle animal? Are there any we’ve left out? Let us know in the comments section at the bottom of the page!
Jungle Animals From Africa
Bongo
Bongo is a popular word in Spanish. Unsplash photographer David Cashbaugh captured the image.
- Tragelaphus eurycer is a Mammal, Even-Toed Ungulate species that is Near Threatened.
Bongo, a big forest antelope found in Central Africa’s tropical woodlands, is a large forest antelope. The bongo has a bright, chestnut-brown coat with vertical white stripes and is one of the world’s most distinctive antelopes. The bongo is the world’s third-largest antelope, with a shoulder height of up to 1.3 m / 4.3 ft.
Bongos have exceptional hearing due to their large ears. Its spiral horns may reach a meter (3.28 feet) in length and are pointed. Horns are found on both men and women.
Bongo activity is mostly nocturnal, and it is an herbivore.
Bonobo
The Congo Basin jungles are home to the bonobo, a primate. It lives in groups of 30 to 80 members. The bonobo, like all omnivores, will eat insects and small mammals such as rats to supplement its mostly fruit and seed-based diet.
Bonobos are our closest living cousins in the animal kingdom, alongside the closely-related chimpanzee. Captive bonobos have been taught to comprehend around 3,000 words after being shown that they are clever.
Chimpanzee
- The conservation status of this animal is endangered.
The chimpansh thrives in the African forests of Central and Western Africa. It’s just a little bigger than the bonobo, which is closely related. A 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) tall male chimp stands around.
Chimpanzees are clever animals who utilise sticks and stones as tools on a regular basis. The species is endangered and faces habitat destruction.
Dwarf Crocodile
In Ghana, there’s a dwarf crocodile. Francesco Veronesi [CC BY-SA 2.0] photographed the scene.
The dwarf crocodile is the world’s tiniest living crocodile, growing to about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. It isn’t the world’s tiniest Crocodilian, however; that would be the dwarf caiman of South America.)
The tropical jungles of West and Central Africa are home to the dwarf crocodile. It is mostly nocturnal and spends less time basking in the sun than other crocodiles. In addition to foraging on land, the dwarf crocodile spends less time in the water than other crocs.
Forest Elephant
- The Mammal Species Loxodonta cyclotis is Critically Endangered.
The forest elephant is one of two elephant species found in Africa, the other being the bigger African bush elephant. Both African elephants used to be considered the same species, until recently.
The forest elephant is the smallest of the three types of elephants, and it is found in Asia.
The forest elephant may be found south of the Sahara Desert in West and Central Africa’s jungles. The species is endangered to the point of extinction. Habitat destruction, ivory poached for profit, and food-hunting all pose threats to the species.
Gorilla
- The Gorilla is a critically endangered mammal that belongs to the Hominidae family.
Gorillas, along with chimps and bonobos, are our closest animal cousins (only humans are more closely related to us). Gorillas are the biggest non-human primates.
The western gorilla and the eastern gorilla are the two different species of gorillas. Both may be found in jungles as well as a variety of other forest areas. Mountain forests of Central Africa are home to a subspecies of eastern gorillas, the mountain gorilla.
A big adult male silverback, or gorilla leader, leads a colony of gorillas. The majority of gorillas’ diets consists of leaves and shoots, which they eat mainly.
Leopard
- Panthera pardus is a vulnerable mammal species.
The leopard is one of the most well-known animals on the planet due to its striped coat, sleek yet muscular body, and ringed tail.
Several ecosystems, from rainforests to grasslands, are suitable for the leopard to live in.
The leopard is found in much of Sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia, despite its wide range. Its population is declining, although it is declining. Deforestation is a big influence in the leopard’s demise, as it is in the decline of so many other jungle species.
The leopard is a strong hunter that can carry its victims up trees, giving it an advantage over lions, who would happily steal the food for themselves if given the chance.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
- Mammal, Even-Toad Ungulate, Choeropsis liberiensis
The only two surviving members of the Hippopotamidae family are the pygmy hippopotamus and its bigger relative, the hippopotamus; all other extinct species belong to this genus. The pygmy hippo may be following in the footsteps of its extinct relatives, with a dwindling wild population thought to number under 2,500 adult individuals.
The pygmy hippopotamus, like the hippopotamus, is a semi-aquatic and herbivorous beast that spends the majority of its time in water. The pygmy hippo is a solitary beast that humans seldom encounter.
Tree Pangolin
Pangolin Conservation, in St. Louis, is photographed by Justin Miller. ActiveWild.com cropped and resized this photograph from Augustine, Florida / EdgeOfMidnight.
Mammal, Family Manidae, Scientific Name: Phataginus tricuspis.
The tree pangolin is one of eight species of pangolin, also known as the white-bellied pangolin. It may walk on all four legs or only its hind legs, and its body is covered with enormous scales. If it only feeds on ants and termites.
The tree pangolin spends most of its time in the trees and is nocturnal. It may be found in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially near rivers, in thick woods.
Jungle Animals From Asia
Crested Serpent Eagle
Sri Raman A, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Cropped / Resized by ActiveWild.com)
Prey on snakes and lizards, the crested serpent eagle is a jungle predator. It sits and waits for its prey to approach after flying over areas of dense vegetation in search of a suitable hunting spot. It will occasionally chase its prey on foot.
Dhole
- The cuon alpinus is a type of Himalayan dog found in the Canidae (dog) family.
The dhole, a Central and Southern Asian forest wild dog, is an endangered species. It hunting for similar kinds of prey than tigers and leopards. It dwells in the same areas as them. The dhole, however, is not endangered due to competition with these ferocious cats; it is endangered due to human-on-human conflict.
Due to human overhunting of the dhole’s major prey, such as deer, there is little food for the dhole left. The dhole has lost more food and a smaller hunting territory as a result of habitat degradation induced by human development.
Dholes communicate via whistles, whines, screams, and a variety of other vocalizations and reside and hunt in packs of around 12 individuals.
Gaur
Gaur is a popular name among Indian women. On Unsplash, Saketh Upadhya shot the photo.
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The Bovidae family includes the gaur, which is the largest member. This Asian species is heavier than both the European and American bison, with a maximum weight of around 1.5 metric tonnes. Indian bison is another name for the gaur.
The herbivorous bovid gaur is usually active during the day. The gaur may have a nocturnal activity pattern when it is found living near humans. For the most part, it lives alone or in small groups, although it may join together in bigger groups at specific periods of the year.
Great Hornbill
CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Cropped / Resized by ActiveWild.com)
The long, horn-shaped beak of the great hornbill earned it its name. It’s one of the bucerotidae family’s fifty or so hornsbill species, and it’s one of their biggest.
Asia and Africa are also home to hornbills. Toucans from the Americas have a similar appearance and behavior to these fruit-eating birds. Convergent evolution is a process of unrelated species developing similar adaptations, as seen in this example.
Deforestation is the primary cause of the great hornbill’s vulnerability.
Red Junglefowl
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The Gallus gallus, a Phasianidae bird, is classified as least concern.
The jungles of southern Asia are home to the red junglefowl. That’s one of the major forerunners of the domestic chicken, so it may seem familiar. Even if you’re deep in the jungle, don’t be surprised to hear the familiar sound of a cock crowing.
Only to reach a tree limb to perch on or flee a predator does the red junglefowl fly. In the jungleside, it spends most of its time searching for seeds.
Reticulated Python
- Malayopython reticulatus is a reptile species that is classified as Least Concern.
The world’s longest snake and one of the three heaviest, the reticulated python is well-known. It may grow to be over 6 meters / 19.7 feet long. The reticulated scale pattern (‘reticulated’ means ‘net-like’) earned the species its name.
This magnificent swimmer is frequently seen in damp areas and is a big jungle snake. Even at sea, the species has been discovered.
The non-venomous reticulated python is a member of the Pythonidae family. It constricts its victim and overcomes them, making it an ambush predator.
Sumatran Rhinoceros
International Rhino Foundation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Cropped / Resized by ActiveWild.com)
The Mammal Family: Rhinocerotidae, Scientific Species: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
The Sumatran rhinoceros is one of the world’s rarest jungle creatures, with a total adult population of only around 30 individuals. Overhunting and habitat destruction have resulted in the near-extinction of this huge herbivore.
The Sumatran rhino is a little rhino that grows to be over 3 meters / 10 feet in length. Despite its huge size, the Sumatran rhino is mostly unseen because of its metric tonne (2,200 pound) weight. It’s a solitary creature that operates in a diverse ecological area.
Sun Bear
- Helarctos malayanus is a type of mammal that is protected by the IUCN.
Sun bears are found across India, Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian nations, in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
The sun bear is the most arboreal (tree-dwelling) of all the eight living species of bears, spending much of its life in the trees. Termites, ants, insect larvae, honey, and fruit are all part of the sun bear’s omnivorous diet.
The bright yellow-orange patch on the sun bear’s chest gives it its name.
Tiger
- Panthera tigris is a species of mammal that is critically endangered.
The Felidae family of cats includes the tiger, which is the biggest member. With no natural predators of its own, this solitary hunter is at the top of the food chain.
Tigers can dwell in grasslands, even in taiga woods that are covered in snow for much of the year, and may be found throughout tropical jungles.
The tiger is one of the most well-known animals in the world, with its bright orange coat and black stripes. The tiger is in danger, despite its popularity. This ferocious beast is fighting for survival among a population of fewer than 3,500 people in the wild.
Water Monitor
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) Nur Hussein, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Varanidae family of reptiles is classified as a least concern species.
The genus Varanus contains approximately 80 reptiles known as “monitor lizards,” and the water monitor is one of them. The water monitor reaches lengths of over 2 meters/6.5 feet, making it one of the biggest monitors around.
The semi-aquatic existence of the water monitor is evident from its name. Water creatures such as fish, frogs, and snakes make up the majority of its diet. The water monitor, which has razor-sharp teeth and claws, is known to eat small crocodiles.
This adaptable reptile may be found in swamps, shrubland, and even cities and towns, in addition to living in mangrove forests.
The Asian water monitor and the common water monitor are other names for the same species. It’s a term of abuse in Thailand.
Jungle Animals From Australia
Bowerbird
The Ptilonorhynchidae family of birds
The brightly-colored ninety types of bowerbird are certainly remarkable, but it is their behaviour that distinguishes them. Male bowerbirds are distinguished from other jungle birds by their capacity to build complex stick structures known as “bowers.”
The guy creates his bower after collecting brilliantly coloured objects from the surrounding woods. A visiting female will mate with the male if she is sufficiently impressed. The bower’s sole purpose is to entice females; the eggs are deposited in a different nest.
The jungles of New Guinea and Australia are home to bowerbirds.
Musky Rat-Kangaroo
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) Photo: PanBK on the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Hypsiprymnodon moschatus is a species of mammal and marsupial.
In the rainforests of northeast Australia, the musky rat-kangaroo is a tiny marsupial. The musky rat-kangaroo is a solitary animal that spends the day in a nest and sleeps at night. Fruit, fungus, and insects are among its prey.
Southern Cassowary
- Type of Bird: Ratite Conservation Status: Least Concern
The only cassowary species found in Australia is the southern cassowary, which is one of three species. The emu, a huge flightless bird, is the family Casuariidae’s fourth member.
After the two species of ostrich and its Australian relative, the emu, the southern cassowary stands at a height of up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).
A casque is the term for a horn-like helmet that adorns the head of a cassowary. It’s unclear what the casque’s precise purpose is — it may be a signal of a bird’s health to prospective mates, or it may help to amplify the cassowary’s call.
Tiger Quoll
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) Joshua Cunningham, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dasyurus maculatus is a vulnerable species of Marsupial.
On account of the distinctive markings on its tail, the tiger quoll is also known as the “spotted-tailed quoll.” After the Tasmanian Devil, it is the world’s second-largest carnivorous marsupial, with a body length of up to. The species, which also feeds on lizards, birds, and rabbits, has a very strong bite for its size.
Eastern Australia is home to the tiger quoll, which lives in dense woods and other environments.
Jungle Animals From Central and South America
Baird’s Tapir
- Tapirus bairdii is a mammal that belongs to the Tapiridae family.
Baird’s tapir grows to a maximum length of about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and a weight of around 400 kilograms (880 pounds) in South America’s largest land mammal. Because of its size and aggressiveness, it is a solitary nocturnal animal with few natural predators.
Bull Shark
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened (Carcharhinus leucas)
Don’t believe you’ll be any safer in the water because the jungle is full of dangerous animals. Hundreds of miles upstream from the coast, the bull shark may be found in brackish estuaries and even rivers.
Bull sharks are regarded to be the cause of more human attacks than any other kind of shark since they may be found in shallow coastal seas and freshwater environments.
A mature adult female bull shark may grow to be 2.4 m (7.9 feet) long and weigh 130 kg (290 pounds). Female bull sharks are somewhat larger than males.
Fer-De-Lance / Bothrops asper
David J. is the photographer who shot this photo. (Cropped/resized by ActiveWild.com) via Wikimedia Commons, Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Conservation Status Of The Reptile Bothrops asper
Beware of snakes belonging to the genus Bothrops, several of which are known as Fer-De-Lances (the name is French for “spearhead”). If you’re visiting Central or South America’s jungles, be on the lookout for them.
In the Americas, snakes of the genus Bothrops are responsible for more fatalities than any other snake family. From southern Mexico to northern South America, the species Bothrops asper is found. Pay attention to the flat, spearhead-shaped skull and triangular skin patterns.
Jaguar
- The cat ( Panthera onca ) is a Near Threatened species of felidae.
One of the most dangerous jungle predators is the jaguar. The jungles of Central and South America, as well as the southern United States, are home to this fearsome felid.
The jaguar, the third-largest of Panthera’s big cats, has the ability to tackle prey as huge and powerful as caimans and tapirs.
Keel-Billed Toucan
Ramphastidae is a family of birds, and Ramphastos sulfuratus is one of the most common members.
The keel-billed toucan is one of the most distinctive jungle birds. The keel-billed toucan forages for food in the rainforest canopy with its large curved bill, just like other toucans.
A toucan’s beak is largely hollow and lightweight, despite looking like a formidable weapon. The bill is also supposed to assist the toucan maintain its body at the proper temperature, in addition to being a beneficial instrument for accessing fruit.
Toucans have a dark side; they frequently steal eggs and nestlings from the nests of other birds, despite their seeming friendliness.
Mantled Howler Monkey
(Cropped and resized by ActiveWild.com)
- Mammal, primate family Atelidae
Many primates live in the world’s jungles, including early primate ancestors that evolved to dwell in trees and modern monkeys and apes with various features for this habitat, such as excellent eyesight, flexible shoulders, and strong hands.
Just one of numerous monkeys that dwell in jungles is the mantled howler monkey. In Central America’s forests, this huge monkey may be found. It lives in large groups of up to 40 individuals and eats mostly leaves.
The mantled howler is noted for its tremendous loud territorial howls, much as other howler monkeys. In order to alert other troops of their presence, howler monkeys howl. Real, physical fights are prohibited by this “shouting conflict.”
Oscar
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) Jón Helgi Jónsson (Amything), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Cichlidae family of fish includes Astronotus ocellatus.
The Oscar fish is a freshwater species found in the Amazon Basin’s shallow rivers and streams. It is thought that the piranha-deterring eyes on its tail are reason enough to stay away.
In many places of the globe, Oscars are kept in aquariums as pets. In South America, they are also captured and consumed.
Panamanian Night Monkey
(Cropped and resized by ActiveWild.com) dsasso, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened
The genus Aotus, which includes the Panamanian night monkey, is also referred to as a “night monkey.” The only truly nocturnal monkeys are the eleven species of night monkeys.
Panamanian night monkeys may be found in Panama and Columbia, but the majority of them are. Brown fur, a short tail, and a brownish hue characterize this species. It has huge eyes, as do all night monkeys, to aid it see at night.
Red-Bellied Piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri is a fish species that has not yet been evaluated for conservation.
The Amazon basin and many other river systems in South America are home to the red-bellied piranha, a freshwater fish. The red color of the undersides of this species earned it its name. Piranhas are the biggest species of piranha.
Piranhas have razor-sharp teeth and a strong bite. Piranhas are very rare to attack humans, despite their ferocious reputation. Other animals prey on them because they are mostly scavengers.
Spectacled Owl
(Cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) TonyCastro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Strigidae family of nocturnal predators includes the spectacled owl. The white patterns around its yellow eyes make it look like a show.
The spectacled owl’s conservation status is Least Concern, but its
population is believed to be declining.
Jungle Animals List: Conclusion
Just a tiny sample of the millions of creatures that dwell in jungles may be found in the list above.