Jungle January '26

Learn about the different types of jungles, how the jungle ecosystem works, the layers of a rainforest, and my experiences with the jungle!

I'm sure everybody has walked through a jungle and marvelled at its rich and diverse ecosystem. But to understand it, we first need to look at the different types of jungles. We can broadly categorise jungles into four different categories- coniferous, deciduous, temperate and tropical. Coniferous forests are typically

evergreen, and feature trees with needle like leaves. Pine, spruce, hemlock and fir trees can be found in coniferous jungles. Unlike tropical and deciduous jungles, coniferous jungles require colder climates to thrive. According to NASA Science, The average winter temperature in a coniferous forest ranges from -40°C (-40°F) to 20°C (68°F). The average summer temperatures are usually around 10°C (50°F). Small plants like sarsaparilla, bead lily, twinflower, ferns and mosses and animals like white-tailed deers, grizzly bears and lynx are common to this ecosystem. Deciduous jungles, on the other hand, lose their leaves every winter after a colourful display of fall colours. Oak, beech, rhododendron and elm trees are commonly found in deciduous forests. When the trees lose their leaves in the winter, the fall to the ground and decay, causing the soil to become fertile and slightly acidic and grey- brown. Snails, slugs, insects, and spiders are common inhabitants of the deciduous forest, and many cold-blooded animals, such as snakes, frogs, salamanders, and turtles, are also present, according to brittanica.com. Temperate forests are distinguished by well defined seasons and a moderately warm climate. Animals in a temperate ecosystem include the bobcat, timber wolf and squirrels. Trees like cottonwood, basswood and spring - flowering herbs can be found here. Now coming to the last type of jungles, ( I'm sure you must already be exhausted by this read!!! ) tropical forests. Tropical forests require climates very close to the equator and high levels of humidity. They are broken down into complex layers, we will come to that in a minute, and are known to have one of the most diverse ecosystems out of any biome. Examples of trees here include Mahogany, rubber and teak trees and animals include macaws, jaguars and tarantulas.

A boreal, deciduous forest in the Siberian mountains.

Now that we've learnt about all the types of jungles, let us look in to each one of their diverse ecosystems. Coniferous jungles are home to about around 85 mammal species, 300 bird species, over 130 fish species, and a massive 30,000+ insect species according to World Atlas. Not surprisingly, due to cooler climate and less damp conditions, coniferous jungles are home to the least number of animal species out of all the types of jungles. Even amongst tree population, there is low diversity, as coniferous forests are usually dominated by a few strong tree species in one particular area. Deciduous jungles are home to various species of animals, the majority of which are herbivorous and feed on acorns, nuts and berries from the forest floor. Animals like some species of owl and racoons use patterns on their fur to camouflage into their surroundings to avoid stealthy predators like black bears. During the long, cold winters when the trees have shed their leaves, the black bears go into hibernation and the herbivorous animals dig through the snow for grass and moss, but mostly rely on adaptation to store fat and use specialised digestive systems. Temperate forests have unique and diverse ecosystems. Just like in deciduous forests, tree frogs change colour to blend into their surroundings. Big cats like pumas silently slink through the jungle and pounce animals like deer and bite through their necks. Animals like chipmunks and moose scavenge on tree matter like acorns, ferns and twigs. Tall trees like the California Redwood tower over temperate jungles, giving shelter to small animals, while staying protected from cheeky beavers who use shorter trees to cut down and build dams. Last but not the least, tropical rainforests have the richest ecosystem out of all the biomes in the world. It is said that the wildlife in tropical jungles makes up over 80% of all animal species in the world, according to National park service.

A grizzly bear in a temperate jungle ecosystem

Just like each type of jungle has its own, fascinating ecosystem, each type of jungle has different forest layers, inhabited by different species. A coniferous forest has three layers. The first layer called the tree layer. It extends upto 98 feet and consits of tall trees such as spruce and firs. Birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, grouse and owls nest in the high treetops of the tree layer, and squirrels and martens feed on the plant matter in this layer. The second layer is the shrub layer. This layer extends to about 3-15 feet in height and consists of spotty coniferous shrubs and vegetation. This layer is sometimes absent in a coniferous jungle. The lowest and most abundant in animal species is the ground layer. Animals such as shrews, voles wolves and sometimes even lynx are present here. Insects such as mosquitoes and flies are also abundant. Deciduous forests have more complex layers. The first and highest layer is called the canopy. Here you will find tall trees like oak and chestnut, whose leaves form a thick layer- intercepting the rain. The second layer is called the sub-canopy. Slightly shorter trees and bushes such as holly and hawthorn are found in this layer, as well as small birds like buzzards and finches. The third layer, the herb layer contains herbs, brambles and wild garlic. If the canopy is more open, the herb layer will be more diverse. Finally, the bottom layer, again the ground layer has wet leaf litter, fungi and berries. The temperate and tropical jungles are quite similar to deciduous jungles. The tropical jungle has one more different layer, called the understory.

A picture depicting the different layers of a temperate jungle.

I have been to many different types of jungles and experienced many different jungle ecosystems in my life. In Dachigam National Park, Kashmir I visited a temperate jungle and on my second visit, I was lucky enough to spot a black bear running in and out of the bushes. I saw trees like white birch and small creeks flowing through the jungle. I have also been to Jim Corbett National Park, which is mainly made up of grasslands and deciduous Sal trees. The Corbett ecosystem is rich in flora and fauna, and we spotted many monitor lizards, crested kingfishers and thrushes. It also has much more elusive tigers, leopards and sloth bears, but despite going there six times, I haven’t seen any of those! In Kafue National Park, Zambia, we sailed through semi-deciduous forests and wetlands, which also had elements of tropical jungles further south, such as teak and mopane trees. Similar to the Kafue Jungles, Ranthambore National park, Rajasthan is a tropical deciduous forest, with elements of grassland. It is home to many tigers- as well as elephants, deer and peacock.

Me exploring Daintree rainforest, Australia