African Biomes

Grasslands

A view of the Savanna:

• African grasslands - aka the Savanna
• It is an open area of country land covered with grass and trees and supports life
• Supports lands animals
• Mammals
• Zebras, giraffes
• Lions, rhinos
• Insects
• Ants
• Climate: warm year-round, distinct dry season, rain season (wet)
• Location - Central Africa
• Physical features: Loosely covered with trees, shrubs, occasional watering holes, and lots of GRASS (hence the name "grasslands")
• Shows up as green on Google Earth

Oceans/Seas

Oceans and seas are both bodies of saltwater that both hold many diverse animals and plants. The difference between the two are that seas are smaller than oceans, and seas are usually located where the land and ocean meet. Oceans and seas that surround Africa are: the Atlantic, and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The Atlantic oceans supports life like american lobsters, lemon sharks, grey seals, and fin whales. The Indian ocean has hoff crabs, humpback dolphins, and angelfish. The Mediterranean Sea has turtles, sharks, rays, seals, dolphins, and etc. And, finally, the Red Sea has eel, corals, whales, and fish.

Oceans and seas serve as major food sources for Africa because of its availability.

Mangroves

Definition: A Mangrove is a tree or shrub that grows

in flooded swamps.

• Usually coastal

• Mangroves are sometimes saltwater have low oxygen soil

• Mangroves are habitats to animals like fish, shrimps, and prawns, as well as birds like egrets, and trees like the mangrove tree

• Average Climate: 22°C or 72°F, making it usually warm, and humid year round.

• Mainly in West Africa (specifically Nigeria)
• Located in: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Senegal (all part of West Africa).

Desert

Deserts are landscapes where little rainfall occurs and living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of plant life exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to erosion. About one-third of the land surface of the Earth is arid or semi-arid. This includes much of the polar regions, where little precipitation occurs, and which are sometimes called polar deserts or "cold deserts".

Desert

Africa's deserts

• Sahara desert is the largest, hottest desert in the world
• Filling nearly all of northern Africa
• The Namib Desert and the Kalahari Desert
• located in southwestern Africa

Climate: These deserts are most impacted by arid, barren conditions- lack of water, intense heat and extreme temperature change (hot by day, cold by night)

Animals and Plants

Date palms, tamarisk flowers, and acacia trees

Jackals, sand foxes, camels and ostriches

Forest

Forest

• A forest is an area with many trees and undergrowth, it flourishes with life
• Very high rain fall; a little bit More than 100 inches a year
• High average temperature
• Lots of different species
• Animals such as the gorilla, african Black colobus Monkey, forest elephant, pygmy hippopotamus, and more.
• There are also plants such as rubber trees and giant water lilies, Coconut tree, Kapok tree etc.
• Overall wet climate
• Average humidity between 77 & 88%
• Temperature rarely goes above 93° F or below 68° F
• Located in central/south Africa

Mountain Biomes

Mountains

A mountain is a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising from the surrounding land

Africa has a variety of mountains that are spread across the continent.

• Habitats to animals such as the chimpanzee, african elephant, forest elephant, and gorilla.

• Plants: Cycads

• Average Climate: African Mountains tend to be warm all year round, but can get colder higher up in the mountain.

• Some of the biggest mountains are Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Mount Stanley.

*Mountains are color-coded as purple on this map

Mountain Biomes

Mountains

A mountain is a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising from the surrounding land

Africa has a variety of mountains that are spread across the continent.

• Habitats to animals such as the chimpanzee, african elephant, forest elephant, and gorilla.

• Plants: Cycads

• Average Climate: African Mountains tend to be warm all year round, but can get colder higher up in the mountain.

• Some of the biggest mountains are Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Mount Stanley.

*Mountains are color-coded as purple on this map