Designing Rainforest Flora and Fauna
Aim: To show your knowledge and understanding of the
rainforest environment.
Task: You need to design your own plant (flora) or animal
(fauna) that has adapted to live in a rainforest environment.
Your plant or animal does not have to be like any existing plant or animal
as long as you can explain how it can survive in the rainforest.
You will need to add labels to your design to explain how any adaptations
will work.
You should use the characteristics lists below to give you some ideas.
Think about
a) the climate of the rainforest
b) the rainforest structure
c) and the existing flora and fauna of the rainforest.
Plant Characteristics
Drought
resistant
Deep root
system
Survives under
water
Broad leaves
Sticky surfaces
Loves water
Stores water
Lives on other
plants
Waxy, pointed
leaves
Needle leaves
Floats
Wind-blown
seeds
Climber
Likes strong sun
Bears fruit (nuts
Flowering
and berries)
Sticks to rocks
Colourful
Awful smell
Changes colour
Deciduous
Stunted (close
to ground)
Heavy-weight
seeds
Likes shade
Pollinating
Drab
Buttress roots
Wide root
system
Dies back
seasonally
Evergreen
Thick bark
Seeds with
Velcro-like hooks
Tall
Eats insects
Pleasant smell
Flexible
branches
Animal Characteristics
Fast runner
Can get fat
Thick skin
Spotted fur
Long neck
Sharp incisor
teeth
Thick pads on
paws
Can hibernate
Good sense of
smell
Stamina
Whiskers
Striped fur
Swims
Powerful digging
claws
Can stand on two
legs
Sharp claws
Thick fur
Migratory
Grinding teeth
Climbs trees
Nocturnal
Good eyesight
Webbed feet
Can close
nostrils
Gives off bad
smell
Prehensile
(gripping) tail
Sociable
Agile
Slippery skinned
Strong skeleton
Loud voice
Large body
Very thin body
Fierce growl
Can hold breath
for ½ hour
Large ears
Remember!
Once you have drawn your design you must explain how the adaptations
will help it to survive in the rainforest environment. Look at the ‘Animals
of the rainforest’ PowerPoint to give you some ideas!
Gifted & Talented!
Please read the mark scheme for
this task – you should be aiming
for Level 6.