Leaf litter habitats
What is leaf litter?
Leaf litter is made up of dead leaves and other debris that fall to the floor of a forest or in bushland. It creates a habitat for many different animals, particularly invertebrates. As leaf litter rots it forms soil and creates nutrients for plants. It also stops soil from drying out.
Leaf litter has three layers. Leaves in the litter layer, rotting leaves in the fermenting layer and the completely rotted humus layer.
Leaf litter as habitat
Animals such as spiders, centipedes and ants move over the surface of the leaf litter whilst decomposers such as worms and bush cockroaches tunnel through the soil or live permanently in burrows.
Many insects such as cicadas and beetles spend their larval or nymph life stage in the leaf litter or soil while the adults live in the forest canopy.
Jacky dragons hunt for invertebrates in the leaf litter. Their camouflage helps to protect them from predators.
Echidnas hunt for ants and termites hidden in the leaf litter using their 15 centimetre long tongue.
Wolf spiders and some types of trapdoor spiders create burrows in leaf litter.
Wolf spider
Wolf spiders are arachnids that live in leaf litter or in burrows. They are found throughout Australia. There are many species of wold spiders ranging in size from one centimetre to 8 centimetres. They are hunters that prey upon insects and other spiders. Some larger species can eat frogs and small lizards.
Wolf spiders have excellent camouflage that helps them hide from predators and hunt prey in leaf litter.
Centipede
Centipedes are myriapods. They can be found in leaf litter, soil or under rocks and logs. They are carnivorous, preying upon other small invertebrates such as beetles and millipedes.
Centipedes are built for speed. They move quickly through leaf litter and under rotting logs in search of prey.
Habitat digital book
Find out more
Habitat is a special digital book that investigates the needs of living things through detailed text, interactive activities, videos and stunning images.
Explore the value of habitats such as trees, shrubs and ground cover plants and non-living habitats such as leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.
Find out how to create and restore habitats that will help animals survive and thrive.
This book supports Australian Curriculum biological sciences and living world.