The antonyms for the word "tree-living" can be vast and diverse, as many different species of animals and plants prefer different habitats. Some possible antonyms for "tree-living" include "ground-dwelling," "burrow-dwelling," "aquatic," "cliff-dwelling," "cave-dwelling," and "desert-dwelling." Ground-dwelling animals such as rabbits and badgers, for example, live in burrows and dens in the soil. Aquatic animals, such as fish and turtles, live in water. Cliff-dwelling animals, such as mountain goats, live on the sides of steep cliffs. Cave-dwelling animals, like bats and cave salamanders, live inside caves.