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Global Animal Guide

Grassland habitats

Temperate and tropical grasslands differ in rainfall and fire regimes, but both reward animals that graze, dig, or hunt in open cover. Profiles here mention grassland, prairie, steppe, or meadow habitats.

Quick answer

Grasslands are landscapes dominated by grasses — prairies, steppes, and meadows — supporting grazers, burrowers, and ground-nesting birds. Deep soils make them productive and heavily converted to farmland.

Iconic species

Bison, prairie dogs, cheetahs on open plains, and many grassland birds illustrate how body size and social systems track open habitats.

Threats & pressures

Ploughing, overgrazing, invasive plants, and loss of fire regimes shrink native grassland wildlife worldwide.

How to explore further

Use the savanna hub for tropical tree-dotted grasslands and urban & farmland for species adapting to crops.

Species in grassland animals

Ranked by profile popularity. An animal may also appear in other biomes if it uses multiple habitats.

Show 80 more species

Frequently asked questions

What is a grassland habitat?

Grasslands — prairies, steppes, and temperate meadows — are dominated by grasses rather than trees. They support grazers, burrowing mammals, ground-nesting birds, and specialised predators. Deep soils and seasonal extremes make them productive but vulnerable to ploughing and overgrazing.

Which animals live in grassland habitats?

Species lists on this page are drawn from Global Animal Guide profiles whose habitat facts match grassland keywords. Browse the ranked list for answer-first guides covering diet, range, and conservation.

How is grassland different from other biomes?

Grassland is defined by climate, vegetation, and water availability that favour particular body plans and behaviours. Compare sibling biome hubs (ocean, forest, desert, and more) to see how the same animal groups specialise differently.