Distribution characteristics of soil animals, microorganisms and enzymatic activity were studied in the dry red soil and Vertisol ecosystems with different degradation degrees in the Yuanmou dry hot valley of the Jinsha River, China. Results showed that Hymenoptera, Araneae and Collembola were the dominant groups of soil animals in the plots studied. The numbers of groups and individuals and density of soil animals in the dry red soil series were higher than those in the Vertisol series, and the numbers of individuals and density of soil animals decreased with the degree of soil degradation. Bacteria dominated microbiocoenosis not only in the dry red soils but also in the Vertisols. Microbial numbers of the dry red soil series were higher than those of Vertisol series, and decreased with the degree of soil degradation. The activities of catalase, invertase, urease and alkaline phosphatase declined with the degradation degree and showed a significant decline with depth in the profiles of both the dry red Distribution characteristics of soil animals, microorganisms and enzymatic activity were studied in the dry red soil and Vertisol ecosystems with different degradation degrees in the Yuanmou dry hot valley of the Jinsha River, China. Results showed that Hymenoptera, Araneae and Collembola were the dominant groups of The numbers of groups and individuals and density of soil animals in the dry red soil series were higher than those in the Vertisol series, and the numbers of individuals and density of soil animals decreased with the degree of soil degradation Bacteria dominated microbiocoenosis not only in the dry red soils but also in the Vertisols. Microbial numbers of the dry red soil series were higher than those of Vertisol series, and decreased with the degree of soil degradation. The activities of catalase, invertase, urease and alkaline phosphatase declined with the degradation degree and showed a significant decline with depth in the profiles o f both the dry red