TROPICAL SAVANNAS

VEGETATION

• Savannas are characterized by grasses,
• which can reach up to 3-6 feet tall at maturity.
• Savannas have a few open shrub layers and trees,
• the most common of the latter being boabab/acacia trees,
• but frequent fires/droughts prevent the establishment of forests.

VEGETATION

• Besides tall grass, Savannas are mainly covered
• with small forbes (wild flowers). Altogether, the vegetation
• has adapted to the harsh climate and store nutrients/water
• in their roots. They can also survive fire and use it
• to stimulate growth to add more nutrients to the soil.

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CLIMATE

• Savannas are typically hot year round, hardly ever reaching below
• 64'F. However, there are two very different seasons in a savanna;
• a long dry season (winter) and a very wet season (summer).
• In the dry season, only about 4 inches of rain fall. While this is
• typically the cooler season, temperatures are still around 70'F.

CLIMATE

• During the wet season, there is much more rain, the average
• amount being 15-25 inches of rain fall. The temperature
• typically doesn't rise higher than 86'F, but the air is still extremely
• hot and humid. The wet season usually lasts from May-November,
• the dry season being October-March/April -September.

SOIL

• The tropical savanna has very porous soil,
• which causes rapid water drainage. The soil has
• only a thin layer of humus, (organic portion of soil
• created by partial decomposition of plants/animals),
• which provides nutrients to the vegetation.

SOIL

• Trees also play a big role in drawing mineral nutrients
• up from lower portions of the soil. When dead leaves
• and other tree matter drop to the ground near the tree,
• they decompose and release nutrients. So typically, the
• closer to trees, the more fertile the soil.

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DISTRIBUTION

• While most tropical savannas are commonly associated with
• parts of Africa, they can also be found in parts of Asia, South
• America, and Australia. Specifically, savannas are found
• in northern/east central South America, central/southern
• Africa, the Indian peninsula in Asia, and throughout Australia.

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FAUNA

• In Africa, common animals found in tropical savannas are
• African elephants, termites, gazelles, wildebeest, giraffes,
• hyenas, lions, buffalo, cheetahs, and rhinos.
• In Australia, savannas are home to animals such as emus,
• koala bears, kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, and wallaroos.

FAUNA

• Some animals that live in the tropical savannas of Asia
• are Asian elephants, pygmy hogs, hispid hares, leopards,
• and tigers. Lastly, some animals found in the savannas of South
• America are giant anteaters, rheas, and golden-cheeked warblers,

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