Why are many forest animals adapted to move through trees?

Many animals in temperate forests are adapted to move through trees because the forest structure provides essential ecological niches, such as food sources and nesting sites, located high above the ground.1

To exploit these opportunities, various species have evolved specialized physical traits:

• Grasping and Climbing: Many arboreal mammals possess prehensile fingers or strong claws that enhance their ability to grip branches. Primates, for instance, utilize sensitive hands and feet with opposable thumbs and big toes to ensure stability on slender branches.23
• Mechanical Assistance: Active arboreal life is often supported by features like long tails for balance and, in some birds, stiffened tail feathers that act as braces during vertical movement.23
• Sensory Adaptations: Because navigating the canopy requires precise movement, many arboreal animals have developed stereoscopic vision to accurately judge distances and depth.3
• Locomotor Patterns: Animals have developed diverse gaits for climbing, ranging from the alternate use of limbs seen in squirrels to the zygodactylous feet of parrots, which assist in vertical ascent.2

These adaptations allow animals to thrive in the complex, three-dimensional environment of the forest canopy.13