Aside from the populations of intelligent or semi-intelligent cultures, there is of course a wide variety of more or less natural animals and plants around the entire continent.
Plant life varies based largely on altitude, rather than latitude, given that much of the land mass is equatorial. The deep oceans sport few actual plants, but plenty of unusual clumps of thick, algae-like material that feeds off of the rich nutrients in the volcanic vents. Only along much shallower sea-beds would weed and sea grass grow, but it grows plentifully in almost all coastal areas. So much so in places, that traversing the waters is difficult without the aid of Dragons to chew through it, or rakes to move it out of a boat’s way.
Tropical plants and tidal groves are popular, with sweeping, fan-like root systems of towering trees that show high-water marks from various stages in their long lives. Often, Griffins that are water-lovers (fishing cats, puffins) reside in these massive tree clusters to dive with ease and hunt in the water. Most tree life, however, prefers fresh water to the brackish semi-saline waters of the shore.
Trees such as are found among the Viridian Elves lands are uncommon anywhere else, and there are quite a few such places that sport specific plants either incapable of growing elsewhere, or not very easily transported. Thousands of different fern varieties live in marshes and dry forests, with greater color and texture variation than on Earth. Some huge ferns may house an entire colony of Fairies or Pixies, and below them equally massive mushrooms and fungus might grow.
Quite a few plants have evolved bioluminescence, perhaps due to magical interference, but also equally likely that the soil and cavern waters they live in have allowed it. Useful luminescent plants are often cultivated by a variety of cultures, and used as lamps or guide posts, and certainly some have been put to use in Barony drinks and potions! Many cultures which have access to underground caverns harvest lichen and fungi, both of which are the most commonly luminescent types.
Tall evergreens and durable oaks dominate most of the hilly continent, along with a contingent of deciduous trees that have been used for millennia for tools, housing, fuel, and weapons. Fruit bearing trees and certainly those which can be cultivated manually have succeeded in most climates, regardless of their original niche.
Plenty of dangerous, toxic plants exist, mostly found among the Fey lands. A few cultures have adapted the toxins for use in potions, poisons, and combat. But for the most part, those who live nearest the plants tend to also get eaten by them. Though no one can really confirm or deny it, there are always rumors of openly intelligent, carnivorous plants living in the deepest Mossgate woods or near the Fool’s Mire.
Notably missing are forms of cacti, even with the ‘desert’ found near the Sulfur Shadow, the location didn’t evolve so much as suddenly exist as such. If the volcano never erupted again, it’s possible that those sorts of plants might evolve on their own. Even SandShire hasn’t existed as such long enough to sport specific flora.
The fauna of the planet is, for the most part, just as imported as the intelligent inhabitants. Many species of prey animals flourished in the era after the Gods reign, though in subsequent colonization efforts from other worlds, a good number of predators have claimed solid spots in the ecosystem in order to keep those herds and creatures in check.
In most parts of the world, smaller mammals and reptiles thrive in the woodlands and deep jungles. Exotic creatures which look like cute-furry-animals, however, have on occasion played havoc with hunters. Was that actually a rabbit? Because it had a horn and left no tracks behind… For every ‘normal’ Earth-like species, there is often a counterpart on Dragondeep, but in addition to that there are also often enough twisted, magically enhanced sub-species. There are both eagles and rocs, seahorses and hippocampus, turtles and kappa.
Most climates support a healthy population of predatory animals suited to their environments, but there have been cases of imported Portal-travelers who abandoned livestock or pets only to have them eventually evolve into newer, usually frightening, versions. A thriving economy of imported and very rarely exported animals exists around any given Portal.
Trophy rooms abound with dangerous creatures as well as the more mundane. There are bears and big cats, wolves and giant, flightless birds mixed with stag and wild boar portrayed in many royal tapestries among the Wyldkin. Some of these creatures have been hunted to extinction, but then there are others magically enhanced or being summoned at any given time. Not all summoned creatures are Imps or Daemons, after all – sometimes far more standard animals are of use.
Farms and ranches as well as wide ranges along hillsides commonly sport chickens and cattle, sheep, goats and hogs. Fur trappers make a good trade all around the world. Fashion design often incorporates both exotic and mundane skins and patterns right next to cast-off feathers from Griffin nests or magical hides from hard-fought hunts. Domestication of animals is at around the same level as it would be in any typically pre-industrial country; that is to say that horses or other animals pull carts and plows, goats and cows provide milk as well as meat and leather, and many birds are both trapped or hunted, and raised in coops for eggs and meat.
The fishing trade is obviously more common among coastal communities, with sea snakes and an assortment of unintelligent aquatic life sometimes herded by Dragons or dragonkin. Insects are commonly eaten in some parts of the world, though their presence is not as ubiquitous as one might expect. It can be guessed that originally there hadn’t been nearly as many types of insects when the Gods were mucking with the planet, and those which are around now have traveled with people between Portal worlds.
While some cultures depend on hunting for their existence and rely on physical or magical prowess to keep their bellies full, most which have any sort of cities have gone to a full domestication route to provide food for the bulk of their inhabitants. Though large farms might exist that have machinery and tools to almost equate to modern Industrial era cultivation, most ranches and meat farms still are maintained by a plethora of families and groups. Livestock is a valid trade commodity across the entire continent.
There is also a reasonably healthy trade in pets and luxury animals – unusual creatures from other worlds, or those magically created or imbued, which are sold to the very rich. Most farms will have a dozen half-feral cats or dogs, keeping the area free of vermin, but nobility often have cats, dogs, ferrets, mini-drakes and other such animals as exotic pets.
Magical wildlife is far more common in areas where Summoners live, and in the Fey lands of course. Many ‘oversized’ creatures like drakes (not related at all to Dragons, summoned from another plane), salamander, rocs, and ‘sea monsters’ exist but are usually hunted quickly. Their ability to rampage through an inhabited area is well known and kept to a minimum when there are people available to put them down.