# What biomes of the world are missing in aoe2?

**URL:** <https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209>\
**Category:** II - Discussion\
**Created:** [October 3, 2026, 5:53am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209 "2026-10-03T05:53:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/persiasrerising/32/137537_2.png) [@PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PersiasRerising)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 5:53am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/1 "2026-10-03T05:53:11Z")

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The depiction of nature has made great progress on the last 2 years. We can recreate most of the world realistically with the available terrain, clifs, plants and animals.

But what is missing?

I think Europe and Asia are quite well represented. South and meso America as well. For North America we would only need the buffalo, cougar and maybe a caribou.

Northern Africa is well represented but for the more moist areas we are missing a lot. The rainforest of Africa would be needed for the Kongo and yoruba. Also giraffes, hippos, hyenas, mandrills would be iconic animals that would improve the immersion alot.

That leaves us with Australia. Kangaroos, cassowary and dingos or alligators would be sufficient I think. We have a Australia real world map, that could use them.

What else did I miss?

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**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/2 "2026-10-03T06:00:04Z")

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> [@PersiasRerising](#):
>
> I think Europe and Asia are quite well represented.

I beg to differ. At least for my region - South Asia. I don’t see enough tree from South Asian forest. Also current wild elephant and Rhinos are clearly African.

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**Author:** ![PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/persiasrerising/32/137537_2.png) [@PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PersiasRerising)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/3 "2026-10-03T06:03:16Z")

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I always thought the elephants are all Indian?

Which trees would you add? I would like to see a Thai DLC in the future, so it would be nice to know what else could be added.

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**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:23am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/4 "2026-10-03T06:23:42Z")

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> [@PersiasRerising](#):
>
> Which trees would you add?

These 3 are obvious:

> **[Shorea robusta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorea_robusta)**
>
> Shorea robusta, the sal tree (Devanagari: साल ; IAST: sāla), shala, sakhua, or sarai, is a species of tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The tree is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and across the Himalayan regions. Fossil evidence from lignite mines in the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat indicate that sal trees (or at least a closely related Shorea species) have been a dominant tree species of forests of the Indian subcontinent since at least the early Eocene (roughly 49 milli...

> **[Teak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teak)**
>
> Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. Tectona grandis has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicles) at the end of the branches. These flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers). The large, papery leaves of teak trees are often hairy on the lower surface. Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled and is particular...

> **[Banyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyan)**
>
> See Ficus § Subgenus Urostigma. A banyan, also spelled banian (/ˈbænjən/ BAN-yən), is a fig that develops accessory trunks from adjacent prop roots, allowing the tree to spread outwards indefinitely. This distinguishes banyans from other trees with a strangler habit that begin life as an epiphyte, i.e. a plant that grows on another plant, when its seed germinates in a crack or crevice of a host tree or edifice. Banyan often specifically denotes Ficus benghalensis (the "Indian banyan"), which is...

For berry bush alternative - Mango tree, Karonda tree (Carissa carandas)

Mango tree can also be a regular tree.

New idea - Some trees can supply both wood and food. In that case Mango, Jack Fruit and even Lychee can be considered.

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**Author:** ![PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/persiasrerising/32/137537_2.png) [@PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PersiasRerising)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/5 "2026-10-03T07:37:32Z")

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While I think about it, the red wood Forest would also be a unique experience.

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**Author:** ![RatcicleFan](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ratciclefan/32/115119_2.png) [@RatcicleFan](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/RatcicleFan)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 9:07am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/6 "2026-10-03T09:07:58Z")

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I think more South American biomes would be really cool. It’s not just the Andes and Amazonia, though some people really seem to think Amazonia covers everything.

Also, cougars would fit most of South America along with North and Centel America.

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**Author:** ![Tyranno13](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/tyranno13/32/127995_2.png) [@Tyranno13](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Tyranno13)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 9:11am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/7 "2026-10-03T09:11:04Z")

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> [@PersiasRerising](#):
>
> I always thought the elephants are all Indian?

Nah, they are African Bush Elephants. Head and back shape are very African. Asian Elephants also tend to be darker too. Wouldn’t take much effort to edit for the devs and keep all the African Elephant mechanics, like the different bear colours.

These models were added with the African Royals. Along with the Zebras, Rhinos, Ostriches and Lions.

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**Author:** ![CouguarLoup7693](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/couguarloup7693/32/29921_2.png) [@CouguarLoup7693](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/CouguarLoup7693)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 9:59am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/8 "2026-10-03T09:59:53Z")

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Another topic just for me !

# Africa

African elephant (the actual one is an asian elephant who doesn’t look like an african elephant). The elephant in RoR is an african elephant.

African buffalo : take the actual buffalo and remove the collar, you have a wild african buffalo.

Giraffe  
Hippopotamus  
Hyena (spotted)

A gold animal (like the fox)

Panther (no lion in the rainforest and can be used in Asia too)

Gorilla (decorative object)

**Madagascar**

Here I listed some extinct species who were present in middle age.

Archaeoindris (still alive in middle age [see Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subfossil_lemur#Extinction))  
Dwarf hippo (Hippopotamus lemerlei and Hippopotamus madagascariensi)  
Aepyornis (biggest elephant bird)  
Mullerornis (ostrich sized elephant bird)  
Fossa (gold animal)  
Giant turtle (Aldabrachelys grandidieri) Madagascar and most of the surrounding island were home of giant turtles  
Crocodile (Voay robustus, one endemic specie who disappear and was replaced by the Nile crocodile, not necessary to make a new model, the actual crocodile ingame is enough)

Ring-tailed lemur tree (decorative object)

Baobab : Madagascar is home of various baobab species

Mound-building termites : a decorative object useful in Africa, South America and Australia.  
Tsingi rock ([see here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsingy_de_Namoroka_National_Park))

# Asia

Saiga  
Indian rhinoceros : The actual Rhinoceros is an white rhinoceros an african specie. It’s better to represent the indian rhinoceros who have a single horn instead of two (two of the three asian species have a single horn)  
Malayan tapir : reskin of the south american tapir

Asian buffalo : reskin of the actual herdable buffalo who are an african buffalo.

# America

> [@PersiasRerising](#):
>
> For North America we would only need the buffalo, cougar and maybe a caribou.

Beaver, can be as gold animal and as beaver hut decoration, beaver dam destroying building.  
Bald eagle (flying bird)  
Pronghorn  
Ocelot (gold animal, also useful in South America)

American buffalo (the most north american animal)  
Caribou seam necessary because there is many scenarios in viking world (Karlsefni, Vinlandsaga) and if they ad a finish civilization one day or a siberian people like the Tsattan (can be played by the mongols) who herd reindeer.  
Cougar (useful also in South America)

Beaver hunt (decorative animal with beaver swimming around the hut)  
Manatee (decorative animal)

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) (If they put a Mississippian civilization, also can be useful in the Drake scenario)  
Sequoia

# Europe

Reindeer (huntable) Aurochs (aggressive huntable) , european wisent (aggressive huntable)

One type of terrain : **Columnar basalt**  
There is this type of terrain can be used in Ireland, island and any volcanic part of the world (basalt was used in Micronesia to build Nan Madol for example). Can come in various form : terrain, rock, cliff.

# Oceania

> [@PersiasRerising](#):
>
> That leaves us with Australia. Kangaroos, cassowary and dingos or alligators would be sufficient I think. We have a Australia real world map, that could use them.

In Oceania we must have three biome

**Australia**

Kangarros  
Emu  
Cassowary is useful as aggressive huntable but with very little range in Australia  
Dingo  
Tasmanian devil  
Thylacine (gold animal) according to recent studies he was not an apex predator like the wolf but an opportunistic predator like the fox  
Saltwater crocodile (no alligator here, the biggest species of crocodilian)  
Wombat (hare like huntable)

Koala tree (decorative object)  
Platypus (water decorative object)

Cockatoo (flying bird)

Australian baobab (Adansonia gregorii)  
Bunya-bunya (Araucaria bidwillii)  
Eucalyptus  
Nothofagus tree  
Pandanus ([see here](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandanus) , also can be useful in various part of the world)  
Wattles tree ( Acacia dealbata)

**Tropical Oceania**

All Oceania outside Australia and New Zealand

Cassowary (aggressive huntable)  
Moa-nalo (chicken like animal)  
Feral pig  
Tree-kangaroos (huntable)  
Saltwater crocodile

Albatross (flying bird)  
Frigatebird (Fregata minor or Fregata magnificens) (flying bird)  
Flying fox (bat of the genus P[teropus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteropus)) (flying animal)

Columnar araucaria ( [Araucaria columnaris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_columnaris))  
Pandanus ([see here](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandanus) , also can be useful in various part of the world)  
Tree fern ([see here](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyatheales)) tree fern can be useful in most of the tropical world and in some of the subtropical world like New Zealand)

Corral (new type of stone deposit)

**New Zealand**

Adzebill (huntable) The second biggest flightless bird specie after the moa (good to not put two species of moa)  
Bush moa (little moa) can be avoided and replaced by the adzebil  
Giant moa (huntable) If you put one huntable, put the biggest.  
Penguin (huntable) already present in the game, make him huntable  
Seal (already present in the game)

Kiwi (decorative animal)

Haast eagle (flying bird)

Cordyline australis  
Kauri (Agathis australis)  
Fern (bush tree) fern are very important in the New Zealand culture  
Nothofagus tree  
Totara (Podocarpus totara)  
Tree fern ([see here](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyatheales)) tree fern can be useful in most of the tropical world and in some of the subtropical world like New Zealand)

> [@SMUM15236](#):
>
> New idea - Some trees can supply both wood and food. In that case Mango, Jack Fruit and even Lychee can be considered.

Good idea gaining two resource from one deposit.

Another idea : **food and gold animals**. Already present but only for the varangians. I propose that the animal who were hunted for their horn and their tusk give also gold in addition of food : Elephant, Rhinoceros, Walrus.

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**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/9 "2026-10-03T11:14:50Z")

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Huntable aggressives missing in Polish and Lithuanian campaigns: auroch and wisent (European bison)

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**Author:** ![RatcicleFan](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ratciclefan/32/115119_2.png) [@RatcicleFan](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/RatcicleFan)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/10 "2026-10-03T18:18:50Z")

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> [@CouguarLoup7693](#):
>
> Penguin (huntable) already present in the game, make him huntable

Penguins exist all over the Southern Hemisphere (as far north as the Andes and I think Galapagos, though not on the Brazilian coast that I know of), and there are various species, so they’d need multiple variants. Supposedly Incas hunted them for meat, by the way.

Also the Great Auk (which the term penguin referred to originally) and Steller’s Sea Cow would have still existed around this time, so they could be huntables/fishables(?) in Arctic Maps/scenarios.

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**Author:** ![CouguarLoup7693](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/couguarloup7693/32/29921_2.png) [@CouguarLoup7693](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/CouguarLoup7693)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 7:45am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/11 "2026-10-04T07:45:04Z")

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> [@RatcicleFan](#):
>
> Penguins exist all over the Southern Hemisphere (as far north as the Andes and I think Galapagos, though not on the Brazilian coast that I know of), and there are various species, so they’d need multiple variants. Supposedly Incas hunted them for meat, by the way.

I know, I just put the actual penguin ingame in New Zealand because there is some of those in this country.

For AoE2 ideally we need 3 types :

**Crested penguin** (the actual one) in new Zealand. Various species if the genus _Eudyptes_ in New Zealand and the surroundings islands. The Moriori people hunted one specie into extinction in Chatham islands.  
**Penguin** for the one of Africa and South America, represent the genus _Spheniscus_  
**Yellow-eyed penguin** in new Zealand (_ **Megadyptes antipodes** _) The local people hunted two subspecies of this one to extinction.

For the other species they are too tiny (Little penguin) or live in subantarctic islands. But the great penguins (Aptenodytes) can be good addition in AoE3

> [@](#):
>
> Also the Great Auk (which the term penguin referred to originally) and Steller’s Sea Cow would have still existed around this time, so they could be huntables/fishables(?) in Arctic Maps/scenarios.

I support the great auk in AoE2. For the Steller’s Sea Cow it’s a good addition for AoE3 but not for AoE2 because it’s unlikely we gain an official scenario featuring the Bering sea in middle age.

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**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 5:39am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/what-biomes-of-the-world-are-missing-in-aoe2/290209/12 "2026-10-05T05:39:04Z")

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I would like to see aggressive fish like sharks and whales.things like lobsters octopus and crabs would be interesting too.
