Types of jungles and their characteristics

The jungle is a bioclimatic landscape that has a large amount of rainfall, abundant vegetation and a warm climate, with an organization established at different levels of altitude. But, How are the jungles? Among its general characteristics are:

• Its location occurs in different latitudes, abounding in the areas of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
• These occupy 6% of the entire surface of the planet.
• They have abundant rainfallwith a rainfall between 1,500 and 2,000 mm, so necessary to sustain the large amount of existing plant mass. In addition, humidity favors the decomposition of organic matter present in the soil. If we get closer to Ecuador, up to 3,000 mm per year.
• They have an abundant hydrography thanks to the constant rains.
• The jungle temperature located in the tropical strip, goes Between 27 ºC and 29 ºChowever, if we go from 400 meters high or subtropical latitudes it decreases to 22 ° C. Also if we find mountain jungles or also altitude calls, it can descend a little more to 17 ºC.
• Jungle vegetation and jungle animals They represent two thirds of the total biodiversity existing on the planet, taking into account that there are still many species to identify and discover. Here you can learn more about what animals live in the tropical jungle.
• They are great oxygen generatorsalso function as important ecological shelters, also for communities of human beings.
• The jungles have a 4 -layer structure: soil, undergrowth, canopy and emerging.
• It is found severely threatened for the wood industry, illegal mining and agriculture and intensive livestock.

We encourage you to read these other ecology articles about the jungle ecosystem and its characteristics and on the flora and fauna of the tropical jungle. Regarding the different types of jungles, these are classified according to their altitude, humidity and latitude, and then we will see each of these types of classification.

These are the different types of jungles according to the altitude to which they are:

• Basal or plain jungle: This is between 0 and 1000 meters above sea level, so it is usually flooded, becoming swampy or resting territories as it happens in the alluvial jungle.
• Mountain jungle: You can also receive the name of cloudy jungle, and are at a height that ranges between 1,000 and 2,200 meters above sea level, has very abundant biodiversity and in them the condensation of moisture occurs. There are also mountainous jungles in the subtropical region, although they are at a lower height, between 500 and 1,300 meters above sea level.
• Gallery jungle: They are typical of intertropical areas, surrounding wet areas such as lagoons and rivers of the sheets of the savannah. Here we tell you more about the forest or gallery jungle: what is, flora and fauna.

They can also classify jungles according to moisture what they have:

• SUPERHÚDA SELVA: In tropical jungles there is a precipitation strip of about 2,000 mm per year and 4,000 mm. It usually presents rainy climates that make the foliage always green, although drought periods can be given in which part of the foliage is lost, approximately 25%, which ends up recovering quickly.
• Wet jungle: In the drought time the foliage that is lost is in the range between 25% and 50% so the loss is partial. Precipitation for the subtropical jungle are between 1,000 and 2,000 mm per year and in the tropical jungle between 2,000 and 3,000 mm per year.
• Subhuma jungle: Also called dry jungle in which both dry and humid periods are given by which in the dry times all foliage is lost. In this area, diversity is lower, predominantly the same kind of tree.

If we classify them according to their latitude, the different types of jungle are:

• Equatorial jungle: It has an average of 35 ºC, with impressive biological characteristics. The Amazon or the Congo jungle are equatorial jungles.
• Rain forest: with temperatures greater than 24 º C, as an annual average. Its climate in addition to warm is wet thanks to the winds from the north and south that converge.
• Subtropical jungle: In these jungles there are annual average temperatures between 18 and 24 º C. with rather cold winters, and warm summers.
• Temperate jungle: Or also called Laurifolio forest, it presents abundant humidity and cold climates.
• Subpolar jungle: Also called the rainforest forest or Magellan forest, this jungle is Located in glacial lakes and coasts of fjords, they have great biodiversity and perennifolia vegetation.

Among the most leafy and important jungles in the world They are the Congo junglelocated in Africa with approximately 700,000 km2, and the Amazon junglelocated in the heart of South America with an approximate extension of 5,500,000 km2. Other names of important forests are:

• Harapan jungle in Indonesia.
• Hawaii jungles in the United States.
• Yanoda jungle in China.
• Tropical Daintree jungle in Australia.

We recommend you read this other post about the importance of jungles and forests.

If you want to read more articles similar to Types of jungles and their characteristicswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.