Animals In The Temperate Rainforest Biome

Biomes differ from ecosystems in that the former refers to a large natural area of land classified by the species of flora and fauna that live there, and the latter is a smaller area that refers to the way in which species interact with the environment and its non-living elements. In other words, a biome can contain multiple ecosystems within it. Everything from climate and soil type to light and water levels contribute to the unique characteristics of specific biomes. Overall, there are several distinct biome types, though there isn't widespread agreement on the exact number. Some scientists acknowledge six different categories: forest, grassland, freshwater, marine, desert, and tundra. But there are other ways of taxonomizing these types of environments. 

For example, the forest category is often broken down into subcategories that include warm and wet tropical rainforests, cold taiga forests, and temperate forests. The latter are found around the world, and each example of the temperate biome is home to different creatures. From small birds, insects, and mammals, to large mammals and predatory birds, temperate rainforests host a wide array of species, some of which are endemic (i.e. don't live anywhere else in the world) to habitats within the biome, and some of which merely pass through on their migratory journeys. Most animals in the temperate biome live on or closer to the forest floor, which is typically covered in lichens, mosses, and other small plants, alongside decomposing parts of trees and other organic material. The soil is therefore packed with nutrients, which gives rise to a plethora of plant-life, providing habitats for the many species that call these biomes home.

While temperate rainforests and all their amazing features aren't quite as biodiverse as their tropical counterparts, there is still impressive diversity in these biomes. Below are some of the most remarkable examples.

As well as covering parts of mainland Alaska, the Tongass National Forest comprises several forested islands, several of which are home to a species not found anywhere else in the world. The Prince of Wales flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons) is a subspecies of the northern flying squirrel, and can only be found on Prince of Wales Island and some nearby islands. The squirrel lives in Sitka Spruce and Western hemlock trees and is somewhat unique among temperate rainforest species in that it spends most of its time in the high canopy rather than near the forest floor, gliding between trees using its patagium, a membrane that extends between the animal's front and back legs.

Discovered in 1934, this subspecies is not only genetically distinct from the more common northern flying squirrel, but has a unique coloration, displaying a whiter underside, darker back, and grayer head and neck area. This flying squirrel is also important to its ecosystem because it helps spread ectomycorrhizal fungi, which provides sustenance for other species, as well as conifer seeds and other fungal spores which help spur growth in areas that often lack vegetation within the temperate rainforest biome.

The Prince of Wales flying squirrel is not found anywhere else in the world, and is just one example of a species that has emerged from a temperate rainforest biome.

A sub-ecoregion of the Pacific temperate rain forests, the Northern California coastal forests are home to an endemic species of rodent called yellow-cheeked chipmunks (Neotamias ochrogenys). Also known as the redwood chipmunk, this species is part of the squirrel family, Sciuridae, and lives in the temperate coastal coniferous forests of the northern Golden State, where it exists on a relatively small area of land that is no wider than 25 miles and covers just 7,700 square miles.

Though this particular chipmunk is the largest member of the Neotamias genus, averaging between 9 and 12 inches in length, it is tough to spot, and rarely emerges from its habitat — though it makes its presence known with its distinctive "chip-chip" call. We do know that it takes full advantage of the lush forest floor of the temperate rainforests in which it lives, using the dense undergrowth for cover and creating burrows in the soil and trees. The yellow-cheeked chipmunk also feeds on seeds, fruits, fungi, and acorns from oak trees, all of which are abundant in the Northern California coastal forests in which it lives.

This small deer, native to the Valdivian temperate rainforest of Chile and Argentina, is of particular note for decreasing in population. Identified as "near threatened" in 2016, the Southern pudu is an integral part of its ecosystem, capable of changing the abundance of particular tree and plant species in a given area due to its herbivorous diets. The animals also help spread seedlings and provide shelter for smaller creatures by building tunnels in the underbrush. As such, their decreasing numbers are concerning.

Southern Pudu are the second smallest deer in the world with an average height at the shoulder of between 13 and 17 inches and a body length of no more than 33 inches. Weighing between 14 and 30 pounds, these elusive animals have a dark red and brown coat which can change between individual Southern pudu and between seasons. The deer prefer areas with small trees and low-lying vegetation, making temperate rainforests with their rich forest floors perfect. What's more, the animals use the cover of the forests to protect themselves from sun rays, and are thought to be intolerant to the heat.

The Valdivian temperate rainforests are the only temperate rainforests in South America and, unfortunately, are under increasing threat from logging and the introduction of non-native pine and eucalyptus plantations. As such, it's not just the Southern Pudu that is at risk, but the entire temperate rainforest in which they live.

The animals of the Taiheiyo Evergreen Forest include such remarkable species as the Asiatic black bear, sika deer, Japanese serow, wild boar, Japanese weasel, and Japanese flying squirrel. The region is perhaps best known, however, for being home to the Japanese macaque, which is found on the three Japanese islands covered by the Taiheiyo Evergreen Forest ecoregion: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The Mount Omine area is actually home to the second largest population of Japanese macaque, though the animals can be found as far north as the Shimokita Peninsula in the northwest of Honshu Island. They are the only monkeys to live that far north in the world and are known for their ability to adapt to diverse climates and habitats.

The species exists in both the sub-tropical southern end and the sub-arctic northern end of its Japanese distribution, but can be found throughout the warm and cool temperate forests that lie between the two.

The Japanese macaque, with its human-like red face, grows to between 2 to 4 feet in length, and weighs between 22 and 66 pounds.They are also unique for their ability to thrive in both warm and cool temperate forests. Indeed, they are also known as snow monkeys for their ability to survive in areas where snowfall covers the ground for long periods during the year. Many younger macaques have actually learned how to make snowballs, which serves absolutely no purpose beyond a way for them to have fun.

The Appalachian temperate rainforest, located in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains, is home to more than 10,000 species including moose, chipmunks, and more than 30 species of salamander, many of which are endemic to the forest.

Among these endemic salamanders are the red-cheeked salamander, black mountain salamander, and Cheat Mountain salamander. These amphibians belong to the Plethodontidae, or lungless Salamander family, which means they breathe through their skin and membranes in their mouth and throat, making the temperate forest an ideal habitat. The salamanders require moist ground cover as a refuge for when the climate becomes too hot and dry, and temperate forests such as the Appalachian ecoregion that hosts these remarkable creatures, provide exactly that. The red-cheeked salamander also makes use of the rich and densely-packed forest floor of its temperate biome, hiding under rotting logs, leaves, or rocks, and in burrows during the day, then searching the ground for food at night.

Each of these lungless endemic salamanders can only be found in relatively small areas within the Appalachian temperate rainforest. The red-cheeked variety, for example, resides only in higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains of extreme western North Carolina, extreme eastern Tennessee, extreme western South Carolina, and Georgia. Similarly, the Cheat Mountain salamander can, as you might expect, only be found on West Virginia's Cheat Mountain.