ABSTRACT
The habitats in which tropical wildlife occurs can be broadly, divided into forest and savanna. The tropical rain forests are undoubtedly of importance to local societies, and not only because of the food resources provided by the animal inhabitants. As in the case of South America, the ungulates of the tropical Asian savannas are too sparse to be exploited commercially. An altitudinal gradation from rain forest to open country occurs with increasing elevation in tropical mountains, although trees are limited by temperature rather than precipitation. The mammalian fauna of the tropical forests is certainly rich and varied but those species considered so far are not significant in world trade. Numerous small carnivores inhabit tropical forests. Reptiles occur throughout the forests and many, including some poisonous snakes, are eaten. Many amphibians used for food occur in forest streams and pools, although their distributions often extend into rivers and wet areas of the savannas.
