The flora of Yaralon are all specialized to survive in long periods of drought during the dry season, while also being able to survive the massive rainfalls, flooding, and standing water during the wet season. They must also endure a large population of creatures that rely upon their consumption to survive.
The grasses in the region are by far the most successful of the flora life here. The variety of grasses is immense, each with different preferences to soil types, water levels needed, and such. The grasses are often bitter, or too sharp, to many grazers, and grow from the bottom up, so that when grazed upon, the plant does not die. Due the hyper specialization of the grazers, many will eat upon different parts of the grasses, and leave the rest. The grasses closer to the Hot Lands of
Nashaki tend to grow more in dense clumps with shrubs between them. Heading westward, the grasses grow much taller and cover the ground more thoroughly, particularly between water sources such as rivers, streams, ponds, and swamps.
The grasses on the north side of the region are much shorter due to the rocky nature of the soil around
the Spines. They also don't quite get as much of the rainfall as the rest, due to the elevation and the mountains pushing back the storm clouds.The grasses near
Bastards' Grove on the west side of the region are more akin to the rolling grasses found near forest, and are much more lush.
The shrubs around the Yaralon region are short, dense, and often protected by several specialized defenses, the most common of which is thorns or corrosive sap. They are often found only around permanent or seasonal watersheds, and usually are found fairly spread out from other shrubs due to the sparsity of water. They are more readily found closer to the Hot Lands and Nashaki, as well as near to the Spines in the north. They are much more rare in the western end of the region. Several of these shrubs and bushes bear fruit in the form of small berries and other smaller fruits. These usually bloom and bear during the beginning and end of the rainy season, which is Ymiden and Vhalar respectively.
Trees aren't nearly as common around Yaralon as grasses and shrubs are. Trees are usually only found near deep water sources, above or below ground, and never in large groupings. More often than not, trees are found standing alone, far from any others. Trees in the Yaralon savanna are adapted to the climate, often having deep roots, thick, fire resistant bark, trunks that can store water, and leaves that fall in the dry season. Many are often short and twisted, with chemical defenses that make them undesirable to graze upon. Others grow their branches and leaves just out of reach of most of the herbivores.
Fauna in Yaralon are heavily dependent on the grasslands for sustenance, and are often migratory. These migrations are triggered by both the wet and dry seasons, as well as due to the abundance of hyper specialized grass grazers. Many of these creatures here have long legs or wings for continuous migrations. Others burrow into the ground in order to have protection from both heat and predator. Sweating is often nonexistent, as is large, fur coats. Instead, creatures rely on panting or large ears and such to reduce heat.
Predators reign supreme in Yaralon. Because the savanna is smaller than the migration ranges of many of the animals, it allows for predators to keep up with the migratory patterns. There are both pack hunting predators like wild dogs and lions, as well as solitary hunters like crocodiles and cheetahs. The problem with predators are other predators, including the people of Yaralon. Animals must kill their prey, and defend it. The other main difficulty is that many of the prey animals travel in herds, taking on protection in numbers instead of agility or other defenses. Many of these predators either continuously stalk the herds, or set up territories around water sources.
Prey animals in Yaralon are extremely migratory, cycling through the land following the growth and consumption of the grasses that dominate the landscape, moving from water source to water source. Many of these herd creatures grow quite large due to this abundance of food, including creatures like giraffes, elephants, and water buffalo. If not a herd creature, typically the prey animal is smaller, preferring to rely upon hiding and deception in a small territory, often underground, such as prairie dogs, otters, and various rodents and rabbits.
