Tropical deciduous forest in Bandhavgarh National Park, India

Physical Environment: Rainfall is substantial, at around 130–280 cm a year, but the dry season is distinct, often two to three months or longer. Soil water shortages can occur in the dry season. Temperatures are hot year-round, averaging 25°C–39°C.  Location: Equatorial, where rainfall is more seasonal. Much of India consists of tropical deciduous forest, containing teak trees. Brazil, Thailand, and Mexico also contain tropical deciduous forest. At the wet edges of this biome, it may grade into tropical forests; at the dry end, it may grade into tropical grasslands or savannahs.  Plant Life: Because of the distinct dry season, many of the trees in tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves, just as they do in temperate forests, and an understory of herbs and grasses may grow during this time. Indeed, because the canopy is often more open than in the tropical rain forest, a denser closed forest—what we might think of as a “tropical jungle”—exists at the forest floor. Where the dry season is six to seven months long, tropical deciduous forests may contain shorter, thorny plants such as acacia trees and the forest is referred to as a tropical thorn forest.  Animal Life: The diversity of animal life is high, and species such as monkeys, antelopes, wild pigs, and tigers are present. However, as with plant diversity, animal diversity is less than in tropical rain forests. Tropical thorn forests may contain more browsing mammals; hence, the development of plant thorns as a defence.  Effects of Humans: Logging and agriculture have had a large impact on tropical deciduous forests. The litter layer of dead, decaying leaves is much thicker than in tropical rain forests and renders the soil more fertile.