Types of Grasslands
Grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica and come in several different forms depending on their climate and location. What they all share: vast open spaces dominated by grasses, few trees, and a rich diversity of grazing animals.
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Tropical Savanna
Africa & Australia
- Hot year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons — grasses grow tall in the wet season
- Africa's Serengeti is the world's most famous savanna — home to the Great Migration
- Scattered acacia trees dot the landscape, providing shade and food for giraffes
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Temperate Prairie
North America
- The Great Plains of North America stretch from Canada to Texas — once roamed by 60 million bison
- Rich, deep soil makes prairies some of the most fertile farmland on Earth
- Four distinct seasons — hot summers, cold winters, and moderate rainfall
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Steppe
Asia & Europe
- Vast dry grasslands stretching across Central Asia from Eastern Europe to China
- Home to snow leopards, saiga antelope, and Przewalski's wild horse
- Drier than prairies with harsher winters — grasses tend to be shorter
Grassland Animals
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Savanna Animals
African Savanna
- Lions, cheetahs, and leopards hunt wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle
- Elephants, giraffes, and rhinoceros are the iconic megafauna of Africa
- Vultures and hyenas play vital roles as scavengers, cleaning up the landscape
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Prairie Animals
North American Prairie
- American bison once numbered 60 million — now recovering from near-extinction
- Prairie dogs build vast underground towns housing thousands of individuals
- Bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, and burrowing owls are iconic prairie birds
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Steppe Animals
Asian Steppe
- Snow leopards hunt ibex and bharal sheep in the high mountain steppes
- Saiga antelope migrate in huge herds across Central Asian steppes
- Mongolian wild horse (Przewalski's horse) is the only truly wild horse species
Grassland Plants
Grasses are the dominant plant in this biome — and they're perfectly adapted to survive fire, drought, and grazing. Their secret? Most of their biomass is underground in deep root systems that regrow quickly after being eaten or burned.
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Big Bluestem
King of Prairie Grasses
- Can grow up to 10 feet tall — the dominant grass of the North American tallgrass prairie
- Roots can extend 10 feet deep, surviving drought and fire
- Turns a beautiful red-bronze color in autumn
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Prairie Wildflowers
Biodiversity Boosters
- Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and blazing stars bloom among the grasses
- Provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Their seeds feed birds and small mammals through the winter
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Acacia Tree
Savanna Staple
- Iconic flat-topped trees of the African savanna — adapted to survive dry seasons
- Thorns protect leaves from being over-browsed by herbivores
- Provide shade, food, and nesting sites for dozens of savanna species
⚠️ The Most Endangered Biome
Grasslands are the world's most endangered biome. Over 70% of the world's grasslands have been converted to farmland, because their deep, fertile soils are ideal for growing crops like wheat and corn. This habitat loss has driven many grassland species to the brink of extinction — including the black-footed ferret, swift fox, and dozens of grassland birds.
Grassland Facts
25%
of Earth's land surface is grassland — found on every continent except Antarctica
60 million
American bison once roamed North American prairies — reduced to fewer than 1,000 by 1889
3 types
of grasslands: tropical savanna, temperate prairie, and steppe — each with distinct features
70%+
of grasslands worldwide have been converted to farmland — making it the most threatened biome
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