Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Biome

Grassland

Grassland, Savanna and Shrubland Biomes

A biome of open, grass-dominated terrain that receives too little rain to sustain a closed forest canopy but too much to become desert, shaped as much by fire and grazing pressure as by climate. Tropical grasslands, commonly called savanna, carry scattered drought-resistant trees and a sharply divided wet and dry season, best known through Africa's Serengeti; temperate grasslands, called prairie in North America, steppe in Eurasia and pampas in South America, carry few or no trees and a deep, fertile topsoil built up by centuries of grass root turnover, which has made many of the world's temperate grasslands into its most productive farmland.

Facts
Climate
Annual Precipitation (mm)
650 1
Cited range runs 10 to 30 inches (roughly 250 to 760mm) a year for prairie-type temperate grassland; 650mm sits within it, not a single measured site.
Typical Low Temperature (C)
-7 1
The cited January MEAN of about -7C (20F) is used directly here; individual cold snaps run considerably lower.
Typical High Temperature (C)
30 1
The cited July MEAN is about 21C; 30C here represents a typical hot summer day rather than the monthly mean, since prairie summer highs commonly exceed the mean by a wide margin.
Grassland
Filter Results1 entry
Connections

Demonstrates

Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Home To

Source African Buffalo (Wikipedia)
Source African Bush Elephant (Wikipedia)
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source Wikipedia: African wildcat
Source Agrostis gigantea (Wikipedia)
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source Wikipedia: Argentine Horned Frog
Source Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) (Wikipedia)
Ball Python, Species
Source Ball python, Wikipedia
Source Banded mongoose (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Black-footed cat
Source Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Wikipedia)
Source Black-winged kite (Wikidata)
Source Wikipedia: Blunt-headed salamander
Burrowing Owl, Species
Source Burrowing owl - Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Chinese mountain cat
Source Wikidata: Common Starling
Source Common Warthog (Wikipedia)
Corn crake, Species
Source Corn crake (Wikipedia)
Source Eastern Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
Source World Wildlife Fund
Gelada, Species
Source Gelada (Wikidata)
Source Great Plains (Wikipedia)
Groundhog, Species
Source Groundhog (Wikipedia)
Hen harrier, Species
Source Hen harrier (Wikidata)
Honey Bee, Species
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
House Sparrow, Species
Source Wikipedia: House Sparrow
Joshua Tree, Species
Source Wikipedia: Yucca brevifolia
Leopard Gecko, Species
Source Leopard Gecko (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Leopard tortoise
Lion, Species
Source Lion (Wikipedia)
Maned Wolf, Species
Source Maned Wolf (Wikipedia)
Source Mascarene swiftlet (Wikidata)
Source Mongolian-Manchurian Grassland (Wikipedia)
Source Nine-banded Armadillo (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Northern bald ibis
Pampas, Ecosystems
Source World Wildlife Fund
Pampas Cat, Species
Source Wikipedia: Pampas cat
Source Patagonian Desert (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Philippine Pangolin
Plains Zebra, Species
Source Plains Zebra (Wikipedia)
Puff Adder, Species
Source Puff adder (Wikidata)
Source Red imported fire ant - Wikipedia
Source Red-tailed Hawk (Wikipedia)
Source Rocky Mountain Juniper (Wikidata)
Secretarybird, Species
Source Secretarybird (Wikipedia)
Serval, Species
Source Serval (Wikipedia)
Source Short-eared owl (Wikidata)
Sorrel, Species
Source Sorrel (Wikipedia)
Tamandua, Species
Source Wikipedia: Tamandua
Source Turkey Vulture (Wikipedia)
Source Agaricus bisporus - Wikipedia
Source White-tailed Deer (Wikipedia)
Wood Turtle, Species
Source Wikipedia: Wood turtle
Source Wikipedia: Zygaena fausta
Sources
1. Grasslands Climate (Blue Planet Biomes)
Blue Planet Biomes
  • Grasslands Climate - Precipitation
    Annual precipitation is 10-30 inches.
  • Grasslands Climate - Temperature
    The mean temperatures for the prairie in January is 20 F, and 70 F in July.
View the Source
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
  • britannica.com/science/grassland, opening definition paragraph
    grassland, area in which the vegetation is dominated by a nearly continuous cover of grasses. Grasslands occur in environments conducive to the growth of this plant cover but not to that of taller plants, particularly trees and shrubs.
  • Home To: African Elephant
  • Home To: Honey Bee
  • Home To: American Bison
  • Demonstrates: Wildfire
View the Source
Patagonian Desert (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Patagonian Steppe, lead sectionView the Source
Mongolian-Manchurian Grassland (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Mongolian Steppe, lead sectionView the Source
Great Plains (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Great Plains, lead sectionView the Source
World Wildlife Fund
World Wildlife Fund
  • Home To: Eurasian Steppe
  • Home To: Pampas
View the Source
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Demonstrates: Tornado
  • Demonstrates: Derecho
  • Demonstrates: Hailstorm
  • Demonstrates: Downburst
View the Source
African Buffalo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: African Buffalo, Wikipedia intro: "ark, hairy tuft. The species occurs in a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, savannas, forests, grasslands, shrublands and wetlands. It forms herds ranging..."View the Source
Nine-banded Armadillo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Nine-banded Armadillo, Wikipedia intro: "mainly nocturnal animal, found in many kinds of habitats, from mature and secondary rainforests to grassland and dry scrub. It is an insectivore, feeding chiefl..."View the Source
Plains Zebra (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Plains Zebra, Wikipedia intro: "ween clines and individuals. The plains zebra's habitat is generally, but not exclusively, treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands, both tropical and temperat..."View the Source
White-tailed Deer (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: White-tailed Deer, Wikipedia intro: "adaptable, the various subspecies of white-tailed deer inhabit many different ecosystems, from arid grasslands to the Amazon and Orinoco basins; from the Llanos..."View the Source
Wikipedia: House Sparrow
WikipediaHome To: House Sparrow, Wikipedia intro: "ings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away fro..."View the Source
Maned Wolf (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Maned Wolf, Wikipedia intro: "s a loud call known as "roar-barking". This mammal lives in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in the Cerrado o..."View the Source
Serval (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Serval, Wikipedia intro: "is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across i..."View the Source
Secretarybird (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Secretarybird, Wikipedia intro: "It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frede..."View the Source
Ball python, Wikipedia
Home To: Ball Python, Wikipedia intro: "o called the royal python, is a python species native to West and Central Africa, where it lives in grasslands, shrublands and open forests. This nonvenomous co..."View the Source
Burrowing owl - Wikipedia
Home To: Burrowing Owl, Wikipedia intro: "pecies of owl native to the open landscapes of North and South America. They are typically found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Yucca brevifolia
Home To: Joshua Tree, Wikipedia intro: "to the Mojave Desert between 400 and 1,800 m (1,300 and 5,900 ft) elevation. It thrives in the open grasslands of Queen Valley and Lost Horse Valley in Joshua T..."View the Source
Red imported fire ant - Wikipedia
Home To: Red Imported Fire Ant, Wikipedia intro: "and live in a wide variety of habitats. They can be found in rainforests, disturbed areas, deserts, grasslands, alongside roads and buildings, and in electrical..."View the Source
African Bush Elephant (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: African Bush Elephant, Wikipedia intro: "ation by retaining water. The African bush elephant inhabits a variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is..."View the Source
Agaricus bisporus - Wikipedia
Home To: White Button Mushroom, Wikipedia intro: "Agaricus bisporus, the cultivated mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It is cultivated in more than 70 coun..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Argentine Horned Frog
WikipediaHome To: Argentine Horned Frog, Wikipedia intro: "idae. The species is endemic to South America. It is the most common species of horned frog, in the grasslands of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. A voracious eat..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Tamandua
WikipediaHome To: Tamandua, Wikipedia intro: "uthern tamandua (T. tetradactyla) and the northern tamandua (T. mexicana). They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensi..."View the Source
Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) (Wikipedia)
Home To: Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Wikipedia intro: "ndia in the west to Borneo in the east, and Nepal in the north to Sumatra in the south. It inhabits grasslands, tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen fores..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Leopard tortoise
Home To: Leopard Tortoise, Wikipedia intro: "s commonly placed in Geochelone. This tortoise is a grazing species that favors semiarid, thorny to grassland habitats. In both very hot and very cold weather,..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Wood turtle
WikipediaHome To: Wood Turtle, Wikipedia intro: "w, clear streams with compacted and sandy bottoms. The wood turtle can also be found in forests and grasslands, but will rarely be seen more than several hundre..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Zygaena fausta
WikipediaHome To: Zygaena Fausta, Wikipedia intro: "lts often visit a wide range of flowers including knapweed and eryngo. Typical habitat is dry chalk grassland. Adults fly throughout the summer from April or Ma..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Northern bald ibis
Home To: Northern Bald Ibis, Wikipedia intro: "it ibis, or Waldrapp (Geronticus eremita) is a migratory Old World ibis found in open areas such as grasslands, rocky mountains, and semi-deserts, often close t..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Blunt-headed salamander
Home To: Blunt-headed Salamander, Wikipedia intro: "n Michoac?n state in Southwestern Mexico. It inhabits a landscape consisting of a mosaic of natural grasslands and pine-oak forests at elevations of about 2,000..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Black-footed cat
Home To: Black-footed Cat, Wikipedia intro: "in the northern Karoo of South Africa and described in 1824. It is endemic to the arid steppes and grassland savannas of Southern Africa. It was recorded in sou..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Philippine Pangolin
WikipediaHome To: Philippine Pangolin, Wikipedia intro: "ince of the Philippines. Its habitat includes primary and secondary forests, as well as surrounding grasslands. This species is moderately common within its lim..."View the Source
Wikipedia: African wildcat
Home To: African Wildcat, Wikipedia intro: "n China. It inhabits a broad variety of landscapes ranging from deserts to savannas, shrublands and grasslands. The African wildcat is the ancestor of the domes..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Chinese mountain cat
Home To: Chinese Mountain Cat, Wikipedia intro: "egs and black tipped ears. It is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau of western China, where it lives in grassland above elevations of 2,500 m (8,200 ft). It has bee..."View the Source
Wikipedia: Pampas cat
WikipediaHome To: Pampas Cat, Wikipedia intro: "tion may cause the population to decline in the future. It is named after the Pampas, but occurs in grassland, shrubland, and dry forest at elevations up to 5,0..."View the Source
Banded mongoose (Wikipedia)
Home To: Banded mongoose, Wikipedia intro: "a mongoose species native from the Sahel to Southern Africa. It lives in savannas, open forests and grasslands and feeds primarily on beetles and millipedes. Mo..."View the Source
Lion (Wikipedia)
Home To: Lion, Wikipedia intro: "and have a prominent mane that extends from the head to the shoulders and chest. The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is an apex and keys..."View the Source
Sorrel (Wikipedia)
Home To: Sorrel, Wikipedia intro: "dock ("dock" often used for the genus). The species is native to Eurasia and a common wild plant in grassland habitats. It is often consumed as a leaf vegetable..."View the Source
Corn crake (Wikipedia)
Home To: Corn crake, Wikipedia intro: "that species is also darker-plumaged, and has a plainer face. The corn crake's breeding habitat is grassland, particularly hayfields, and it uses similar enviro..."View the Source
Agrostis gigantea (Wikipedia)
Home To: Agrostis gigantea, Wikipedia intro: "response to fires, with the survival of rhizomes and seeds. It can be found in open woodland, rough grassland, hedgerows, roadsides and waste ground, and as a w..."View the Source
Groundhog (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Groundhog, Wikipedia 'Groundhog': contributor to soil health in woodlands and plainsView the Source
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Wikipedia 'Black-tailed prairie dog': found in the Great Plains of North AmericaView the Source
Common Warthog (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Common Warthog, Wikipedia 'Common warthog': found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan AfricaView the Source
Red-tailed Hawk (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Red-tailed Hawk, Wikipedia 'Red-tailed hawk': occupies a wide range of habitats including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forestsView the Source
Turkey Vulture (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Turkey Vulture, Wikipedia 'Turkey vulture': inhabits subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and desertsView the Source
Leopard Gecko (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Leopard Gecko, Wikipedia 'Leopard gecko': native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and NepalView the Source
Gelada (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Gelada, IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: Common Starling
Home To: Common Starling, IntroductionView the Source
Rocky Mountain Juniper (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Rocky Mountain Juniper, IntroductionView the Source
Puff adder (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Puff Adder, IntroductionView the Source
Eastern Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Eastern Spotted Skunk, IntroductionView the Source
Short-eared owl (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Short-eared owl, IntroductionView the Source
Hen harrier (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Hen harrier, IntroductionView the Source
Black-winged kite (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Black-winged kite, IntroductionView the Source
Mascarene swiftlet (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Mascarene swiftlet, IntroductionView the Source
Dissenting Readings (1 dissenting reading)
Description

Whittaker's own classic biome-climate diagram, published in Communities and Ecosystems (1975), plots vegetation type against mean annual temperature and precipitation and places tropical savanna and temperate grassland/desert in genuinely separate regions of that diagram rather than treating them as one grassland category. Carried here as a real disagreement in the classification literature this atlas draws from: this entry's own choice to fold savanna into one Grassland biome, following a common simplified convention, is not the only defensible reading, and a source as foundational to modern biome classification as Whittaker's own diagram drew the line differently.

A dissenting reading, from Robert H. WhittakerEncyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Take a Related Quiz

Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.