The open canopy supports an understory of tall grass, mostly species of Sorghum growing up to 2.5 metres high.

[2] Areas of monsoon rainforest are found in enclaves with fertile soils, protection from fire, and dry-season water from shallow aquifers or perennial rivers or streams.

[6] Heathlands grow in areas of the sandstone plateaus with thin, acidic soils, and are home to many endemic species.

[2] Native mammals include the agile wallaby (Macropus agilis), common wallaroo (Osphranter robustus), antilopine kangaroo (Osphranter antilopinus), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), northern brushtail possum (Trichosurus arnhemensis), common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), rock-haunting ringtail possum (Petropseudes dahli), sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), dusky rat (Rattus colletti), and pale field rat (Rattus tunneyi).

Indigenous protected areas in the ecoregion include Anindilyakwa, Dhimurru, Djelk, Laynhapuy–Stage 1, Marthakal, Warddeken, and the northern portion of South-East Arnhem Land.