Home›Flowering Plants›Habitat›Freshwater Swamp ForestBiomeFreshwater Swamp ForestFreshwater and Wetland BiomesReference and ClassificationVerifiedFreshwater swamp forest is a biome of forest standing in freshwater that floods it either permanently or only for part of the year, typically along the lower reaches of rivers and around freshwater lakes, occurring in climates ranging from boreal to tropical. Its water depth varies from a few centimeters to several meters and floods irregularly or seasonally rather than on any fixed cycle, drawing on rain, rivers and groundwater together, which sets it apart from a peat bog, fed by rainfall alone; because its water carries silt from the land, a freshwater swamp forest's soil tends to be comparatively rich in nutrients rather than poor, unlike a bog's. Its trees include mangroves in some settings alongside palms and hardwoods such as mahogany and ebony, forming dense canopies that shade a wet understory, and many of its plants show adaptations such as pneumatophores, aerial roots that let them breathe in waterlogged ground. The biome is found worldwide, in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa and South America, with its largest expanses in the Amazon basin, and further significant stretches along rivers such as the Mekong, the Chao Phraya and the Irrawaddy. It is distinct from a mangrove forest, and despite its wide distribution it remains comparatively understudied next to the more prominent wetland biomes.FactsFreshwater Swamp ForestConnectionsSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClimateAnnual Precipitation (mm)Well-attested1400 11400mm sits within the cited 1,300 to 1,500mm range for the Tonle Sap Basin-Mekong Lowlands, where the Tonle Sap freshwater swamp forest lies.Typical Low Temperature (C)Well-attested21 2General Cambodia seasonal range, representative of the Tonle Sap freshwater swamp forest, the biome's best-documented single example.Typical High Temperature (C)Well-attested35 2General Cambodia seasonal range; see temperature-low-c for the same caveat.Freshwater Swamp ForestFilter Results4 entriesCommon GroupAllCarnations And Cacti (Caryophyllales) (1)Lilies And Orchids (Liliales/Asparagales) (1)Roses And Relatives (Rosales) (1)Spurges And Willows (Malpighiales) (1)Everyday GroupAllCarnations And Cacti (Caryophyllales) (1)Lilies And Orchids (Liliales/Asparagales) (1)Roses And Relatives (Rosales) (1)Spurges And Willows (Malpighiales) (1)Where It LivesAllAlbania (1)Algeria (1)Austria (1)Belarus (1)Belgium (1)Benin (1)Bulgaria (1)Cameroon (1)Canada (1)Central African Republic (1)Chad (1)Democratic Republic of the Congo (1)Denmark (1)Equatorial Guinea (1)Finland (1)France (1)Gabon (1)Gambia (1)Georgia (1)Germany (1)Ghana (1)Greece (1)Guinea (1)Guinea-Bissau (1)Hungary (1)India (1)Iran (1)Ireland (1)Italy (1)Japan (1)Kazakhstan (1)Liberia (1)Morocco (1)Netherlands (1)Nigeria (1)North America (2)Norway (1)Palestine (1)Poland (1)Portugal (1)Romania (1)Sierra Leone (1)South Asia (1)Spain (1)Sweden (1)Switzerland (1)Tunisia (1)Uganda (1)Ukraine (1)United States (1)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (3)Vulnerable (1)DietAllPhotosynthetic Autotroph (3)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (1)Terrestrial (4)Living or ExtinctAllYes (4)Relationship to PeopleAllEaten or Drunk by People (1)Source of Timber or Wood (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (2)CITES AppendixAllAppendix II (1)Not Listed (3)NatureServe RankAllG5 Secure (1)GNR Unranked (1)TaxonomyAllFagaceae (1)Liliales (1)Magnoliopsida (1)Nepenthes (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 4Iris pseudacorusFreshwater Swamp ForestLophira alataFreshwater Swamp ForestNepenthes spathulataFreshwater Swamp ForestQuercus bicolorFreshwater Swamp ForestConnectionsHome ToAlligator Snapping Turtle, Species Well-attested Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Amazon Varzea Forest, Ecosystems Well-attested Source World Wildlife FundAmerican Alligator, Species Well-attested Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Bald Cypress, Species Well-attested Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Balsam Fir, Species Well-attested Source Abies balsamea (Wikipedia)Black-headed night monkey, Species Well-attested Source GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aotus nigriceps (GBIF species record)Bouvier's red colobus, Species Well-attested Source Bouvier's red colobus (Wikipedia)Dayak fruit bat, Species Well-attested Source Dayak fruit bat (Wikipedia)De Brazza's monkey, Species Well-attested Source De Brazza's monkey (Wikipedia)Defua rat, Species Well-attested Source Defua rat (Wikipedia)Flat-headed Cat, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Flat-headed Cattier 2Gambian epauletted fruit bat, Species Well-attested Source Gambian epauletted fruit bat (Wikipedia)Gotel Mountain soft-furred mouse, Species Well-attested Source Gotel Mountain soft-furred mouse (Wikipedia)Hairy-nosed otter, Species Well-attested Source Hairy-nosed otter (Wikipedia)Hammer-headed bat, Species Well-attested Source Hammer-headed bat (Wikipedia)Hipposideros kingstonae, Species Well-attested Source Hipposideros kingstonae (Wikipedia)Iris pseudacorus, Species Well-attested Source Plants For A Future: Iris pseudacorusKahikatea, Species Well-attested Source Plants For A Future: Dacrycarpus dacrydioidesLinduan rousette, Species Well-attested Source Linduan rousette (Wikipedia)Lophira alata, Species Well-attested Source Plants For A Future: Lophira alata plant recordNepenthes spathulata, Species Well-attested Source Nepenthes spathulata (Wikipedia)Otter civet, Species Well-attested Source Otter civet (Wikipedia)Pennant's colobus, Species Well-attested Source Pennant's colobus (Wikipedia)Quercus bicolor, Species Well-attested Source Plants For A Future: Quercus bicolorSpix's night monkey, Species Well-attested Source GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aotus vociferans (GBIF species record)Sunda Leopard Cat, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Sunda leopard cattier 2Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Victoria Crowned Pigeontier 2Water Sprite, Species Well-attested Source Ceratopteris thalictroides (Wikipedia)Western Lowland Gorilla, Species Well-attested Source Western Lowland Gorilla (Wikipedia)tier 2Wolf's mona monkey, Species Well-attested Source Wolf's mona monkey (Wikipedia)Sources1. Geography of Cambodia (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaClimate sectionQuote, Climate sectionRainfall from April to September in the Tonlé Sap Basin-Mekong Lowlands area averages 1,300 to 1,500 mm (51.2 to 59.1 in) annually, but the amount varies considerably from year to year.View the Source2. Cambodia's Climate: Patterns, Challenges, and Living Realities (Wonders of Cambodia)tier 4Wonders of CambodiaClimate patterns sectionQuote, Climate patterns sectiontemperatures typically ranging between 21C (70F) in cooler periods and 35C (95F) or more in the hot seasonView the SourceEncyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Home To: Bald CypressHome To: American AlligatorHome To: Alligator Snapping TurtleView the SourceWorld Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife FundHome To: Amazon Varzea ForestView the SourceWikipedia: Flat-headed Cattier 2WikipediaHome To: Flat-headed Cat, Wikipedia intro: "Sumatra. It is also native to the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Borneo, and inhabits wetlands like mixed freshwater swamp forests, peat swamp forests and lowland fre..."View the SourceWestern Lowland Gorilla (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Western Lowland Gorilla, Wikipedia 'Western lowland gorilla': lives in montane, primary and secondary forest and lowland swampland in central AfricaView the SourceWikipedia: Sunda leopard cattier 2WikipediaHome To: Sunda Leopard Cat, Section: Distribution and habitat; begins "In Kalimantan, Sunda leopard cats were recorded"Quote, Home To: Sunda Leopard Cat, Section: Distribution and habitat; begins "In Kalimantan, Sunda leopard cats were recorded"In Kalimantan, Sunda leopard cats were recorded in mixed swamp forest and tall interior forest at elevations below 20 m (66 ft) in the vicinity of Sabangau National Park between 2008 and 2018.View the SourceHairy-nosed otter (Wikipedia)Home To: Hairy-nosed otter, Section: Distribution and habitatQuote, Home To: Hairy-nosed otter, Section: Distribution and habitatIn Thailand, it was recorded in the Pru Toa Daeng peat swamp forest and in areas around the Bang Nara river.View the SourceDe Brazza's monkey (Wikipedia)Home To: De Brazza's monkey, LeadQuote, Home To: De Brazza's monkey, Leadis an Old World monkey endemic to the riverine and swamp forests of central AfricaView the SourceBouvier's red colobus (Wikipedia)Home To: Bouvier's red colobus, DescriptionQuote, Home To: Bouvier's red colobus, Descriptionlives in swampy forests surrounding the Congo RiverView the SourcePennant's colobus (Wikipedia)Home To: Pennant's colobus, LeadQuote, Home To: Pennant's colobus, LeadIt is found in rainforests and marshy forests.View the SourceWolf's mona monkey (Wikipedia)Home To: Wolf's mona monkey, LeadQuote, Home To: Wolf's mona monkey, Leadprimary and secondary lowland rainforest and swamp forestView the SourceOtter civet (Wikipedia)Home To: Otter civet, Distribution and habitatQuote, Home To: Otter civet, Distribution and habitatThey are believed to prefer peat swamp forests, but have been sighted at low elevations in tropical dry forests.View the SourceDefua rat (Wikipedia)Home To: Defua rat, Lead, habitatQuote, Home To: Defua rat, Lead, habitatIts natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.View the SourceGotel Mountain soft-furred mouse (Wikipedia)Home To: Gotel Mountain soft-furred mouse, Lead, swamp forestQuote, Home To: Gotel Mountain soft-furred mouse, Lead, swamp forestIt occurs in fern-grassland, montane forest, along streams in forest, gallery forest, and swamp forestView the SourceGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aotus nigriceps (GBIF species record)GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)Home To: Black-headed night monkey, Descriptions: HabitatQuote, Home To: Black-headed night monkey, Descriptions: HabitatPrimary tropical forest, swamp forest, and seasonally flooded forest.View the SourceGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aotus vociferans (GBIF species record)GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)Home To: Spix's night monkey, Descriptions: HabitatQuote, Home To: Spix's night monkey, Descriptions: HabitatTall tropical lowland forest in seasonally flooded forest, swamp forest, and terra firma forestView the SourceDayak fruit bat (Wikipedia)Home To: Dayak fruit bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestQuote, Home To: Dayak fruit bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestBoth bats were caught in a mist net placed near fruiting Ficus tree in disturbed peat swamp forest.View the SourceGambian epauletted fruit bat (Wikipedia)Home To: Gambian epauletted fruit bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestQuote, Home To: Gambian epauletted fruit bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestThey have also been reported to inhabit areas of partially degraded forest, mangrove, and swamp forest habitats.View the SourceHammer-headed bat (Wikipedia)Home To: Hammer-headed bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestQuote, Home To: Hammer-headed bat, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestMost records of this species occur in rainforest habitat, including lowland rainforest, swamp forest, riverine forests, and mosaics of forest and grassland.View the SourceLinduan rousette (Wikipedia)Home To: Linduan rousette, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestQuote, Home To: Linduan rousette, Habitat, freshwater swamp forestIt is endemic to Indonesia and is known only from four specimens collected in the swamp forest of Lore Lindu National Park, in central Sulawesi.View the SourceHipposideros kingstonae (Wikipedia)Home To: Hipposideros kingstonae, Article text, habitatQuote, Home To: Hipposideros kingstonae, Article text, habitatThe species is only found in five main locations across Southeastern Asia; two forests in Thailand, Hala Forest in Yala Province, and Phru To Daeng Swamp Forest in Narathiwat Province, one from Malaysia at Krau Wildlife Reserve in Pahang, and two in Sabah, Borneo at Madai Caves and Gunung Kinabalu.View the SourceWikipedia: Victoria Crowned Pigeontier 2WikipediaHome To: Victoria Crowned Pigeon, HabitatQuote, Home To: Victoria Crowned Pigeon, HabitatThe Victoria crowned pigeon is distributed in the lowland and swamp forests of northern New Guinea and surrounding islands.View the SourceAbies balsamea (Wikipedia)Home To: Balsam Fir, EcologyQuote, Home To: Balsam Fir, EcologyThey typically grow in the following four forest types: Swamp, swamp forest types never completely dry out, so balsam firs have constant access to water.View the SourcePlants For A Future: Dacrycarpus dacrydioidesPlants For A FutureHome To: Kahikatea, HabitatsQuote, Home To: Kahikatea, HabitatsLowland forest, often dominant in swamp forests, North, South and Stewart IslandsView the SourcePlants For A Future: Quercus bicolorPlants For A FutureHome To: Quercus bicolor, HabitatsQuote, Home To: Quercus bicolor, HabitatsBottomlands, stream margins and swamps ... Tolerant of poorly drained sites, it is frequently found in heavy mucky soilsView the SourcePlants For A Future: Iris pseudacorusPlants For A FutureHome To: Iris pseudacorus, HabitatsQuote, Home To: Iris pseudacorus, HabitatsDamp marshy areas, swampy woods and in shallow water or wet ground on the edges of rivers and ditches ... Often found in shady placesView the SourcePlants For A Future: Lophira alata plant recordPlants For A FutureHome To: Lophira alata, Habitats: evergreen and moist deciduous forests, swamp forests, riverbanksQuote, Home To: Lophira alata, Habitats: evergreen and moist deciduous forests, swamp forests, riverbanksEvergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests, and close to riverbanksView the SourceNepenthes spathulata (Wikipedia)Home To: Nepenthes spathulata, HabitatQuote, Home To: Nepenthes spathulata, HabitatNepenthes spathulata is also known to grow terrestrially in high altitude peat swamp forest near Lake Kerinci, at an altitude of 1,100 m.View the SourceCeratopteris thalictroides (Wikipedia)Home To: Water Sprite, Habitat swamp forestQuote, Home To: Water Sprite, Habitat swamp forestCeratopteris thalictroides is often found near stagnant water or in still pockets along slow flowing rivers in swampy areas, swamp forests, sago swamps, marshes, natural and man-made ponds.View the SourceTake a Related QuizWorld Biomes in ExtremesCovers this kind of entry.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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