The brown fish owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) is a large Asian species, measuring about 21 inches. In addition to rainforest habitats, this species is also found in other areas across the Middle East, southern Turkey, Syria, Israel, Malaysia, China and Sri Lanka. Other species found in Asian rainforests include the tawny fish owl, the buffy fish owl, the Malay fish owl and the Blakiston's fish owl, with females measuring up to 30 inches and much larger than males.
Fish owls living in the African rainforest include the Pel's fishing-owl (Scotopelia peli), the rufous fish owl, endemic to western African rainforest, and the vermiculated fish owl. Pel's fish owl can reach up to 24 inches in length, showing brown to reddish feathers with markings while the vermiculated fish owl is often small, measuring up to 16 inches.
Fish owls are top predators in the rainforest food chain. In addition to prey on fish and other small aquatic animals, such as crustaceans, they also feed on species living near rivers, like frogs, lizards, small mammals and other birds. In the food chain, they compete with other birds of prey, such as the eagles and hawks.
Although most fish owl species are not threatened of extinction, the African Blakiston's fish owl and the Asian rufous fish owl are endangered, mainly due to logging, river pollution and habitat loss. Over-harvesting of fish also affects some areas where these species are found. Fish nets can also trap the owls when preying on fish, causing them to drown.