Glossary

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dipterocarps – The predominant family of canopy trees (up to 60 meters tall and 2 meters wide) in the lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. They dominate the forest – often more than half of the trees in the canopy are dipterocarps – and they dominate the forest industry. Their most remarkable feature is their reproduction; they do not fruit every year, but in cycles apparently tied to El Niño (every about 5 years). The reproduction of many other tree (and animal) species are tied to the "masting" of the dipterocarps.

Douc langur – (Pygathrix nemaeus; Family: Cercophithecidae) A 10 kilogram leaf-monkey found in the rainforests and gallery forests of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

dry forests – Dry forests occur in areas that are warm and may receive lots of rain, but have long dry seasons during which the trees lose their leaves to conserve water. Dry forests are found in southern Mexico, southeastern Africa, the Lesser Sundas of Southeast Asia, central India, Indochina, Madagascar, New Caledonia, eastern Bolivia, central Brazil, the Caribbean, valleys of the northern Andes and along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. Although biodiversity is less than in rainforests, dry forests still contain many plants and animals, including monkeys, large cats and parrots, with special adaptations for the extremes of the dry season. Dry forests are important areas for timber species such as mahogany, ebony and teak.

duiker – Small (less than 40 kilogram) African antelopes that dive into dense vegetation for protection (duiker means "diving buck"). Some inhabit dense jungles, others open country with scattered trees and bushes. Duikers eat plants, but will also hunt small animals such as birds. They are territorial but, unlike most antelopes, solitary.