INDO-MALAYAN
Tropical & Subtropical Dry (Deciduous/Monsoon) Forest

The tropical and subtropical dry deciduous and monsoon forest of tropical Asia...

This map shows the distribution of dry forest on the south-east Asian mainland, but it also extends to patches in Java and Bali. Dry forest further east of here belongs to the Wallacean dry forest. 

As with any biome, there are many variations within the habitat. Even small differences in conditions such as geology & soil, altitude, latitude and rainfall can result in different plant species dominating, and thus we have various vegetation communities.

The physical structure can also vary; at the drier end of the open forest, the trees are further apart and the fields are more extensive, and the biome segues into a savanna grassland or dry xeric shrubland. At the wetter end of the scale (such as along rivers as in the image below), the trees start to form a canopy and become a riverine forest; in even wetter areas, it becomes a rainforest.   

The tropical deciduous woodlands of south-east Asia at the end of the dry season, just at the start of the first rains. At this time of the year, many of the dominant trees are leafless.

The first rains of the summer monsoon season produce the initial carpet of bright green grass.

For the page on Plants of the dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

For the page on Invertebrates, Amphibians, & Reptiles of the dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

For the page on Non-passerine birds (birds of prey, woodpeckers)
of the dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

For the page on Songbirds of the dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

For the page on Mammals of the dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

Places to experience dry forest & woodland of tropical Asia

India has the largest most intact areas of dry woodland, including the famous Kanha National park in the centre of India, and Periyar National Park in the tropical south. Off the tip of India is the less populated Sri Lanka. For woodlands, go to Lunugamvehera National Park, Udawalawa National Park and Yala National Park.

Mainland south-east Asia is rapidly losing its drier woodlands. Protected areas in Cambodia include: Florican Grasslands, Kulen Prontemp, and one of the few places to stay is Tmatboey Lodge. One of the more accessible protected areas is Khao Yai National Park in Thailand, just a few hours outside of Bangkok.