Deccan thorn scrub forests

The Deccan thorn scrub forests are a xeric shrublandecoregion of south India and northern Sri Lanka. Historically this area is thought to be covered by tropical dry deciduous forest, where drier closed canopy woodlands blanketed the land before being cleared. However open canopy savannah, which forms a part of this ecoregion is considered ancient natural ecosystems in the more arid rain shadow region and can be considered as a tropical grassland biome. The vegetation consists mainly of southern tropical thorn scrub type forests. These consist of open woodland with thorny trees with short trunks and low, branching crowns; spiny and xerophytic shrubs; and dry grassland. This is the habitat of the great Indian bustard and blackbuck, though these and other animals are declining in numbers; this area was at one time home to large numbers of elephants and tigers. Almost 350 species of bird have been recorded here. The remaining natural habitat is threatened by overgrazing and invasive weeds, but there are a number of small protected areas which provide a haven for the wildlife. Trees in these forests have adapted to not require much water.