Rainforests
contain 170,000 of the world's 250,000 known plant species
A
recent survey in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil found 487 tree species in a single hectare (2.5 acres), while
the US and Canada combined only have 700 species
1/3 of world's birds found in South America
Whereas all of Europe has some 321 butterfly species, the Manu National Park in
Peru (4000 hectare-survey) has 1300 species, while Tambopata National Park (5500 hectare-survey) has at least 1231
species
The United States has 81 species of frogs, while Madagascar, smaller than Texas,
may have some 300 (99% of which are found nowhere else). 80 frog species have been collected in a single
day at localities in Peru.
A single square mile of rainforest often houses more than 50,000 insect species