| Term | Definition |
| tropical dry forest | grow in places where rainfall is highly seasonal rather than year round |
| dry season | during this season nearly all the trees drop their leaves to conserve water |
| deciduous | trees that shed its leaves during a particular season each year |
| warm year round, wet dry seasons, soil subject to erosion | Abiotic Factors of the Tropical Dry Forest |
| deciduous trees, canopy, orchids and bromeliads, aloes | Dominant Plants of the Tropical Dry Forest |
| tigers, monkeys, elephants, snakes, hog-deer | Dominant Wildlife of the Tropical Dry Forest |
| Africa, Mexico, India, Australia | Geographical Distribution of the Tropical Dry Forest |