Mangroves are intertidal ecosystems found in the (sub)tropics, characterized by highly variable environmental conditions such as temperature, sedimentation, and tidal currents. They provide critical habitats for a wide range of terrestrial and marine fauna, including birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and fish. Mangrove roots support epibionts like sponges, algae, and bivalves, while the soft substratum and root spaces offer shelter and food for infaunal and epifaunal species. Mangrove litter contributes to the food web by supporting detritus and plankton, which in turn feed various organisms. Mangroves are important nursery habitats for commercially valuable species like crabs, prawns, and fish, and support offshore fisheries. However, the linkages between mangroves and offshore habitats through animal migrations are still poorly understood. This review summarizes the habitat functions of mangroves for terrestrial and marine fauna, focusing on their interlinkages with adjacent habitats and the role of mangrove litter in the food web. It highlights the importance of mangroves for a variety of species, including sponges, meiofauna, macrofauna, prawns, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. The review also discusses the ecological roles of mangroves, including their contribution to nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, and the protection of species from predation. The study emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the complex interactions between mangroves and their surrounding ecosystems.Mangroves are intertidal ecosystems found in the (sub)tropics, characterized by highly variable environmental conditions such as temperature, sedimentation, and tidal currents. They provide critical habitats for a wide range of terrestrial and marine fauna, including birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and fish. Mangrove roots support epibionts like sponges, algae, and bivalves, while the soft substratum and root spaces offer shelter and food for infaunal and epifaunal species. Mangrove litter contributes to the food web by supporting detritus and plankton, which in turn feed various organisms. Mangroves are important nursery habitats for commercially valuable species like crabs, prawns, and fish, and support offshore fisheries. However, the linkages between mangroves and offshore habitats through animal migrations are still poorly understood. This review summarizes the habitat functions of mangroves for terrestrial and marine fauna, focusing on their interlinkages with adjacent habitats and the role of mangrove litter in the food web. It highlights the importance of mangroves for a variety of species, including sponges, meiofauna, macrofauna, prawns, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. The review also discusses the ecological roles of mangroves, including their contribution to nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, and the protection of species from predation. The study emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the complex interactions between mangroves and their surrounding ecosystems.