Q.9

Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest animal diversity?

(A) Tropical forest

(B) Savana

(C) Chaparral

(D) Tundra

Tropical forests host the highest animal diversity among terrestrial biomes due to their stable warm climate and abundant resources. This makes them biodiversity hotspots compared to savanna, chaparral, and tundra.

Correct Answer

Tropical forest (A) tops animal diversity rankings. These biomes, especially rainforests, shelter over half of Earth’s terrestrial vertebrate species, including vast arrays of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Tropical Forest Diversity

Tropical forests near the equator feature year-round warmth, high rainfall, and multilayered canopies that support complex food webs. This stability fosters speciation, with millions of insect species alone and thousands of vertebrates like jaguars, monkeys, and colorful birds. No other biome matches this richness.

Savanna Animal Diversity

Savannas, or tropical grasslands, sustain large herbivores like elephants, zebras, and wildebeest alongside predators such as lions and cheetahs. Seasonal droughts and fires limit tree cover, reducing overall species count compared to forests, though megafauna diversity shines.

Chaparral Characteristics

Chaparral, a Mediterranean shrubland, features drought-adapted animals like coyotes, rabbits, and lizards amid fire-prone vegetation. Harsh dry summers and mild winters constrain diversity to fewer species than wetter, warmer biomes.

Tundra Limitations

Tundra biomes endure extreme cold, permafrost, and short summers, hosting low-diversity animals such as caribou, arctic foxes, and lemmings. Sparse vegetation and harsh conditions result in the lowest animal richness among options.

Savanna	Warm, seasonal rain/dry	Elephants, lions, giraffes	High

Chaparral	Mild wet winters, dry summers	Lizards, rabbits, birds	Moderate

Tundra	Cold, short growing season	Arctic fox, caribou	Lowest