What climate characteristic primarily defines a tropical dry forest?

A tropical dry forest is characterized primarily by its deciduous trees that shed their leaves in response to seasonal rainfall patterns. In these ecosystems, there is a distinct dry season, which significantly influences the types of vegetation that can thrive there. During the dry months, the forest experiences little to no precipitation, leading to the trees shedding their leaves to conserve water.

This adaptation allows the trees to survive in conditions where water availability fluctuates between wet and dry seasons. While constant rainfall and high humidity are characteristics more typical of tropical rainforests, the tropical dry forest experiences a significant dry period that sets it apart. This seasonal rainfall pattern is what defines the habitats and the types of flora and fauna that inhabit these regions, making the presence of deciduous trees a key characteristic of tropical dry forests.