The greatest diversity of animal and plant species occurs in

Tropical moist forests (tropical rainforests) harbor the greatest diversity of plant and animal species because their warm, humid climates and long-term climatic stability promote high rates of speciation and low extinction, producing exceptionally rich ecosystems. Tropical forests are explicitly identified as “very rich in bio-diversity,” supporting large numbers of endemic and coexisting species through complex vertical structure and myriad ecological niches that allow fine-scale specialization [1]. Contemporary sources reaffirm that tropical rainforests are the most biodiverse terrestrial biome, hosting a disproportionately large share of global vertebrate and plant diversity and providing numerous microhabitats that sustain species richness far beyond temperate forests, deserts, or polluted rivers [2].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 14: Biodiversity and Conservation > BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION > p. 115
2. [2] https://pressbooks.umn.edu/environmentalbiology/chapter/terrestrial-biomes/