Land Biomes From A to Z
Name: ____________________
Read the descriptions written below. Decide which land biome is being described and write the name of the
biome on the space provided.
northwestern coniferous forest
temperate deciduous forest
temperate grassland
temperate woodland and shrubland
desert
tundra
tropical savanna
tropical rain forest
boreal forest
tropical dry forest
a. ____________________________
Found in the pacific northwest; sometimes called the
“temperate rain forest”; has rocky, acidic soil
b. ____________________________
This land biome occurs in areas where there is less than
25 centimeters of rainfall per year; extreme temperature
changes during the day; soil rich in minerals but poor in
organic material
c. ____________________________
This land biome is home to more species of plants and
animals than can be found in all the rest of the land biomes
combined.
d. ____________________________
This land biome is found here in Michigan and is home to
oak, maple, beech, and birch trees (deciduous trees).
Whitetail deer, squirrels, raccoons, and skunks live here.
e. ____________________________
This land biome’s most characteristic feature is permafrost,
a layer of permanently frozen subsoil; migratory waterfowl,
Arctic foxes, caribou, mosses, lichens found here.
f. _____________________________
Coniferous trees are the dominant plants in this biome.
The animals include lynxes, wolves, weasels, beavers, and
moose. Winters are bitterly long and cold, short and mild
summers.
g. _____________________________
Rain is seasonal here rather than year round; trees drop
leaves to conserve water during the dry season; warm
year-round; rich soils
h. _____________________________
This biome is home to toucans, boa constrictors,
anacondas, parrots, monkeys, jaguars and piranhas
i. ______________________________
This biome contains cacti and other succulents and also
plants with short growth cycles.
j. ______________________________
This biome contains a rich supply of humus – a material
formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter that
makes the soil very fertile.
k. ______________________________
This biome has moist, mild air from the Pacific Ocean
bringing abundant rainfall; giant redwood are found here,
as are conifers such as spruce, fir and hemlock
l. _______________________________
The plants here are small and stunted because of the high
winds, short growing season and frequent thawing and
freezing cycles
m. ______________________________
Dense, low plants that contain flammable oils that makes
fires a constant threat; woody evergreen shrubs with small
leather leaves.
n. _______________________________
Semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cool, moist
winters; thin, nutrient-poor soils and periodic fires
o. ______________________________
Once covered vast areas of the Midwestern and central
U.S.; most have been converted to agricultural fields;
periodic fires and heavy grazing by large herbivores here
p. ______________________________
Frequent fires set by lightning; has tall grasses and
drought-tolerant and fire-resistant trees; has lions,
leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and zebras
q. ______________________________
Has coyotes, antelope, prairie dogs and prairie chickens;
historically, has had wolves grizzly bears and bison.
r. _______________________________
Also known as the chaparral
s. _______________________________
Year-round precipitation; fertile soils; has a ground layer of
mosses and ferns; has deer, black bears, bobcats,
raccoons, songbirds and turkeys.
t. ________________________________ Has lush vegetation due to abundant precipitation during
fall, winter and spring but with relatively cool and dry
summers; has bears, elk, deer, beavers, bobcats and owls.
u. ________________________________ Also known as the taiga; moderate precipitation; high
humidity; acidic, nutrient-poor soils
v. _______________________________
Action of large, grazing herbivores such as rhinos prevent
this biome from turning into a tropical dry forest.
w. ________________________________ Found in parts of South and Central America, parts of
Africa, southern India, Mexico, northeastern Australia and
tropical islands.
x. ________________________________ Lynxes, timber wolves, moose and other large herbivores;
beavers and migratory birds found here.
y. _______________________________ “Lion King” takes place in this biome.
z. ________________________________ Most of Europe is in this biome.