Yeah, a bit of a specific suggestion. Also kind of a weird one. But Minecraft has been in need of rare biomes for quite some time, and it would make the game much more interesting (along with more quirky worldgen like in beta/alpha that people keep whining about but I'm not talking about that at all).
The reason why this suggestion would actually make some sense is that 1. The new Baobabs coming in 1.15 or beyond should have their own specific biome besides sharing the Savanah with Acacia trees, and that 2. it would be a very interesting rare biome that could even have its own mobs (like Lemurs for example, but that is not what I am suggesting, everything's up to the devs).
The Madagascan Spiny Forest is a real world biome that can be found around southern/middle/western Madagascar. It is not quite a jungle as there is less rainfall, but it is classified more as a tropical dry forest. Plants found here include the tall, slender Madagascan Baobab (called Tall Baobab ingame), various succulents, palms, and spiny plants. They are also currently endangered. We'll get to that later.
SPINY FOREST:
In Minecraft, the Spiny Forest is a flat/hilly biome that is classified as Warm, but not quite as warm as the Savanahs or Deserts. It would technically be the coldest warm biome. Like Jungles, which they are more likely to generate near. (Savanas come second). Mobs that spawn here include rabbits, sheep, pigs, maybe cows, and whatever else the devs want to spawn here.
This biome generates Regular baobabs as found in savanahs, but also Madagascan baobabs, a variant of baobab that is much taller and a bit skinnier than regular baobabs. Baobabs are the main tree in this biome and are very common.
Ground cover includes grass blocks, tall grass (not very common here), and Coarse Dirt, which is the most common ground cover here. Grass color is similar to Jungle's but a tiny bit duller/dryer. Red Sand could generate here but that will have to be up to the devs (I don't recommend it gameplay-wise, but it would look pretty accurate). Podzol can also rarely generate here around the uncommon Regular baobabs that spawn here.
The plants are what will really make this biome special. As a Spiny Forest, plants are going to have to be spiny here. The main plant that will spawn here (exclusive to this biome) is the Ocotillo.
Ocotillo Plants are two-block tall plants that are spiky. Very spiky. However the player can pass through them like any other plant, and unlike cactus. They would harm the player similarly to Sweet Berry Bushes, but not only when the player moves, just when they collide with one/pass through one. (They could also function exactly like sweet berry bushes, but deal more damage. Up to the devs). This plant is very commonly found in the Spiny Forest biome, and it has a very alien-looking appearance (Look up Madagascan Ocotillo. They look really weird and really cool.)
The second plant that is exclusive to this biome will be the Pachypodium. Weird name.
Pachypodiums are slightly less common succulent-like plants that are native to Madagascar, but are also common in botany. They have baobab-like trunks and branches that spiral around and have fleshy/pointy leaves at the end (Look up what they look like if confused). They can also have spikes, but thats up to the devs. This plant can be one block or two blocks tall, again, IT's UP TO THE DEVS. I would recommend two-blocks tall, but a one-block tall variant would make perfect sense and would be the ideal way to implement these plants. These plants can also have white flowers on them. How pretty.
Now here is an interesting idea for pachypodiums: What if they are all one block tall, but there are two variants: Flowering Pachypodiums and Spiny Pachpodiums? Flowery Pachypodiums are simply decorative plants that spawn in this biome and feature white flowers. Spiny Pachypodiums could be slightly less common, but lack the flowers, and instead have spikes that damage the player exactly like berry bushes. This way, the player will always have to be weary of which plants to touch and which to not touch.
Jungle tree bushes and small jungle trees can also be found here, but they are very uncommon.
Now here's one more thing: The real life spiny forests are endangered. Due to deforestation these biomes are in danger of disappearing, so their presence in Minecraft could help spread awareness. Just another reason to add this biome.
(Alternate biome names: Succulent Forest, Spiny Thicket, Spiny Dry Forest, Madagascan Spiny Forest).
Now here's even one more thing: Spiny Forest M variant.
Most biomes in Minecraft have a mountain variant, but the Spiny Forest's M variant is different from most, as it primarily features the limestone crags of Bemaraha National Park, otherwise known as tsingys.
The tsingys in Madagascar are very craggy, vertical limestone mountains that feature a plethora of wildlife, such as lemurs and mongooses. They are very striking looking, I really recommend seeing some pictures.
The Spiny Forest Mountains biome is mostly made of these crags, although instead of limestone, they are made of andesite, stone, and (to a lesser extent) granite. Baobabs and Tall Baobabs still spawn here between the crags, as well as Ocotillos and Pachypodiums. Mobs that spawn exclusively in this biome should include Meerkats, as they are mongooses, and would definitely fit this biome.
Alright, well, that's it. Thank you so much for reading.
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