A rainforest is a forest of thick, lush vegetation with a high rate of rainfall. There are 2 main types of rainforests: tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are the major number of rainforests present on Earth. They are located north and south of the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and receive abundant, year-round rainfall.
But temperate rainforests are located in different regions. They have a vastly different flora and fauna population compared to the plants and animals of the tropical rainforests. In this AnimalSake article, we look at temperate rainforests in detail — their habitats and facts, along with the temperate rainforest animals list.
Fact File
Temperate Rainforest Fact File
Locations
- United States and Canada west coasts
- Appalachian Forests of Eastern U.S.
- Magellanic and Valdivian forests of South America
- Knysna-Amatole forests of South Africa
- Colchian rainforests of Turkey and Georgia
- British Woodlands
- Rainforests of Iran and Azerbaijan
- Taiwan’s mountain rainforests
- Taiheiyo (Pacific) rainforests of Japan
- Australian and New Zealand rainforests
Temperate Rainforest Animals of America
In the South Americas, the rainforest vegetation is mixed, with some broadleaf trees. The North American vegetation is more coniferous, with some amount of broadleaf species. Trees like Redwood, Sitka Spruce, and Pine are present. These forests are the largest temperate rainforests in the world. What animals live in the temperate rainforests of America?
Animals of the American Temperate Rainforests North & South
- Black Bears
- Grizzly Bears
- Gray Wolves
- Bobcats
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Elk
- Caribous
- Squirrels
- Marmots
- Otters
- Moose
- Sitka Deer
- Porcupines
- Rabbits
- Hares
- Beavers
- Bald Eagles
- Spotted Owls
- Horned Owls
List of Animals in the Temperate Rainforests – Europe
The European vegetation is highly diverse. Conifers like spruce and pine, thick trees like ask, maple, and oak, are the dominant species.
Animals of the European Temperate Rainforests Europe
- Stoats
- Hares
- Bears
- Lynx
- Elk
- Chamois
- Ibex
- Wild Boar
- Brown Bears
- Wolves
- Griffon Vulture
- Badgers
Temperate Rainforest Animals of Asia
Asian temperate rainforests are characterized by a high growth of epiphytes (small plants that grow on trees), and many giant and tall shady trees, mainly broadleaf.
Animals of the Asian Temperate Rainforests Asia
- Snow Monkeys
- Shrews
- Otters
- Deer
- Minks
- Brown Bears
- Moles
- Bats
- Cranes
- Egrets
- Herons
- Snow Leopards
- Eastern Leopards
- Siberian Tiger
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a temperate rainforest?
A temperate rainforest is a cooler, less wet kind of rainforest that grows far from the equator. It has a damp, misty climate with one long rainy season and one short dry season, and is famous for its moss, ferns and tall conifers.
What animals live in temperate rainforests?
Depending on the region, temperate rainforests are home to black and grizzly bears, elk, wolves, raccoons and bald eagles in America; lynx, wild boar and brown bears in Europe; snow monkeys, snow leopards and the Siberian tiger in Asia; and kangaroos, koalas and Tasmanian devils in Australia and New Zealand.
Where are temperate rainforests found?
They are found on the west coasts of the United States and Canada, the Appalachian forests, parts of South America, South Africa, Turkey and Georgia, the British woodlands, Iran and Azerbaijan, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia and New Zealand.
Are temperate rainforests endangered?
Yes. About 55% of the Earth's temperate rainforest area has already been destroyed. Although these forests heal faster than tropical rainforests, this rapid loss has made them even more endangered than tropical rainforests.
Take the Temperate Rainforest Quiz!
5 quick questions. Find out how much you really know about these cool, misty forests and the animals that live in them.
List of Animals in the Temperate Rainforests: Australia and New Zealand
The vegetation here is fern and mosses, with many shrub varieties. There is little threat of bush fires, as the climate does not allow for it.
Animals of the Australian & New Zealand Temperate Rainforests Down Under
- Wombats
- Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Swamp wallabies
- Ringtail Possums
- Echinadas
- Tasmanian Devils
- Tasmanian Pademelons
- Rosellas
- Thornbills
- Spotted-tailed Quolls
- Dusky Antechinus
- Tree Frogs
- Black Currawongs
- Large Land Snail
- Freshwater Crayfish
- Velvet Worm
- Black Cockatoos
- Tiger Snake
- Eastern Pygmy Possums
A Forest Under Threat
About 55% of the Earth’s temperate rainforests area has been destroyed. Though temperate rainforests heal and grow quicker than tropical rainforests, this rapid rate of destruction has made them more endangered than tropical rainforests. There were temperate rainforests in Iceland and other areas of Europe, like Norway, Ireland, and Scotland, but deforestation led to their eradication.
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Fun fact for today!A temperate rainforest can hold the largest biomass — the greatest total weight of living things — of any habitat on Earth, even more than a tropical jungle!