Most people imagine a hot, barren, lifeless landscape when they hear the word ‘desert’. This is partly correct in the case of the Thar Desert, which extends across eastern Pakistan and western India: it can be very hot in summer with air temperature rising up to 50⁰C and annual rainfall averaging about 150mm. However, it is certainly not lifeless because it is a unique ecosystem which supports many species of plants and animals. Based on the soil and terrain, pastoralist communities such as the Sindhi and Meghwal recognize four types of habitats: doongar, muggra, reth and thalar. These indicate rocky outcrops, gravel plains, sandy regions (including dunes) and grasslands respectively. In fact, the desert itself gets its name from the Sindhi word ‘thal’ which refers to the extensive arid grasslands. Earlier camel and sheep herding were the most common livelihoods but with the rise of irrigated agriculture and tourism, the grasslands have gradually shrunk and large herds of camels are no longer a common sight. The flora of the Thar includes xerophytic shrubs such as chug and bhu, as well as important grasses such as sewan. Trees such as the rohida, peelu, ber and khejri also dot the landscape. The fauna includes a wide range of spectacular birds and mammals such as the Great Indian Bustard and chinkara. In addition, there are also many insects, lizards and snakes which thrive in this hot, arid ecosystem. Many of them such as the Indian spiny-tailed lizard and the Laungwala long-headed lizard are endemic to the Thar Desert.

Notes on the captions:

• Doongar are bare rocky habitats which harbour a few animals such as scorpions and geckos.

• Muggra are gravel plains which are highly susceptible to wind erosion.

• Reth are sandy habitats which can trap a fair amount of water and support the growth of ephemeral plants.

• Thalar are grasslands which support both pastoralism and a diversity of wildlife (Great Indian Bustard, desert fox, Indian spiny-tailed lizard, chinkara etc).

• Sewan grass (Lasiurus sindicus), known as the ‘king of the desert’, is a highly drought-resistant species that grows across North Africa, the Middle East, eastern Pakistan and western India. Sewan grasslands provide nutritious fodder for sheep and goats.

• Donkeys are often fondly referred to as the ‘Thar Express’ because they can be ridden quite fast for short distances and their bray resembles the sound made by train air horns.

• The peelu (Salvadora persica) is a small tree that grows well even in saline, infertile soils. It is also known as the meswak or toothbrush tree because in traditional medicine it is used to keep the teeth and mouth free of infections. Its pungent fruit are consumed by both people and birds.

• The rohida (Tecomella undulata) is the state tree of Rajasthan. It has garish orange flowers whose nectar attracts both pollinators (e.g.: white-eared bulbuls) and robbers (e.g.: sunbirds). It is currently endangered due to logging for timber – the wood is known as Marwar teak.

• Like the rohida, the khejri (Prosopis cineraria) is important to desert culture. Its unripe pods, sangri, are an important food for people and livestock during summer or drought years. It is sacred to the Bishnoi community – the story of Amrita Devi, who in 1730 sacrificed her life to prevent cutting of the khejri trees in her village, is believed to have inspired the Chipko movement in the 1970s.

• The ripe desert mushroom, locally known as kumbhi. Such mushrooms often grow in association with a bush called lana (Haloxylon salicornicum). According to local people, the kumbhi become available only when there is a very hot spell, followed by thunder and lightning for a few days and finally, a short spell of rain. Tender kumbhi are cooked into a kadhi with yoghurt, dhania powder and salt, and eaten with bajra

• The sand boa is a common burrowing species found in many desert villages. It plays an important role in controlling the rodent population around human settlements. It is known as the ‘two-headed snake’ (since the rounded tail and head are similar in appearance).

• Desert monitor lizards (Varanus griseus koniecznyi) are the smallest species of desert monitors. They are currently endangered due to largescale habitat destruction caused by irrigated agricultural expansion under the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project. This project brings river water from Punjab, through Haryana, down to seven arid districts in Rajasthan.

• The sanda or Indian spiny-tailed lizard (Saara hardwickii) is a species that is endemic to the Thar desert. It is mostly herbivorous and feeds on tender grass blades, fallen flowers and fruits. Each lizard digs its own burrow but they live clustered together in large colonies. The brightly coloured tail is used in a range of display behaviours.

• Laungwala long-headed lizard (Bufoniceps laungwalaensis). This tiny but beautifully camouflaged lizard has a name longer than its body: It is found on barren, shifting sand dunes and probably feeds on ants. We know very little about this species.

Madhuri Ramesh studies nature-society relations and teaches in the School of Development, Azim Premji University.  She has a PhD in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). She enjoys writing popular science articles.