What are grasslands?

Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is mainly grasses, rushes, bulrushes, and sedges, as well as legumes, clover, and other herbs.

Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica.

Grasslands are herbaceous swamps, meadows, parklands, pastures, prairies, savannahs, sedge swamps, and steppes.

Grasslands can have very short grass or very long grass.

 

Grasslands usually have an annual rainfall ranging between 500-900 millimetres (20-35 inches), but can also occur in areas with an annual rainfall of 600-1,500 millimetres (24-59 inches).

Human-made grasslands are called anthropogenic grasslands.

Many animals live in grasslands, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, arachnids, earthworms, and aquatic animals. Examples of large animals that live in grasslands include the anteater, bison, elephant, Przewalkski’s horse, and antelope – such as the impala and wildebeest (gnu).

Examples of well-known grasslands include the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania.

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM