The Thar Desert spans parts of India and Pakistan along their border. It covers an area of 200,000 square kilometers, mostly in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The desert experiences low annual rainfall between 100-500 mm and hot temperatures. Despite the harsh climate, the Thar Desert is home to over 2,000 species of animals and plants that have adapted to the conditions. Common large mammals include the blackbuck antelope, chinkara gazelle, and Indian wild ass. Reptiles such as snakes and lizards also live in the desert. Over 350 species of birds, including the great Indian bustard, are found within the Thar. Vegetation is sparse but includes drought-resistant shr

1. Presented by –
• Shoaib Akhtar
• Radhika Maheshwari
• Nidhi singh
• Kavita
• Nurain
• Janvi

2. INTRODUCTION:-
• The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert.
• It is an arid region in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent
that covers an area of 200,000 km².
• Forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.
• It is the world’s 20th-largest desert, and the world’s 9th-largest hot
subtropical desert.
• About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India, and about 15% is in Pakistan.
• The Thar Desert embraces the districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and
Jodhpur.
• It is located partly in Rajasthan state, Towards northwestern India of the
Aravalli hills, and partly in Punjab and Sindh (Sind) provinces, eastern
Pakistan.
• Total 61% area located in Rajasthan, and it extends into the southern
portions of Haryana and Punjab states and into northern Gujrat.

4. GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS:-
• The Thar Desert’s name derives from the word t’hul, the general term for the region’s
sand ridges.
• It is defined by a series of natural borders, including the Aravalli Mountain Range to
the southeast and the Punjab plain in the north and northeast.
• To the west, lies the Indus plain & Indus river, and to the south, the Rann of Kutch.
• Much of the desert area is covered by huge, shifting sand dunes that receive sediments
from the alluvial plains and the coast.
• The Luni River is the only river in the desert. Luni Joins the ArabianSea through the
Rann of Kutch in Gujarat
Rainfall is 100 to 500 mm (4 to 20 in) per year, almost all of it between June and
September.
• Saltwater lakes within the Thar Desert include the Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana,
Pachpadra, and Phalodi in Rajasthan and Kharaghoda in Gujarat.
• These lakes receive and collect rainwater during monsoon and evaporate during the dry
season.
• The salt comes from the weathering of rocks in the region.

5. CLIMATE :-
• The climate is arid and subtropical.
• Average temperature varies with season, and extremes can range
from near-freezing in the winter to more than 50º C in the summer
months.
• Average annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 500 mm, and occurs
during the short July-to-September southwest monsoon.
• The desert has both a very dry part (the Marusthali region in the
west) and a semidesert part (in the east) that has fewer sand dunes
and slightly more precipitation.

6. RAINFALL PATTERN
• The amount of annual rainfall in the desert is generally low,
ranging from about 4 inches (100 mm) or less in the west to about
20 inches (500 mm) in the east.
• Precipitation amounts fluctuate widely from year to year. About 90
percent of the total annual rainfall occurs during the season of the
southwest monsoon, from July to September (see also Indian
monsoon).
• About 90 percent of the total annual rainfall occurs during
the season of the southwest monsoon, from July to September.

7. • May and June are the hottest months of the year,
with temperatures rising to 122 °F (50 °C).
• During January, the coldest month, the mean minimum
temperature ranges between 41 and 50 °F (5 and 10 °C), and
frost is frequent.
• Dust storms and dust-raising winds, often blowing
with velocities of 87 to 93 miles (140 to 150 km) per hour,
are common in May and June.

8. SOILS
Desert
soils
Red desert
soil
Seirozems(
Brownish
gray soils)
Red and
yellow soils
of foothills
Saline soils
Lithosols
(shallow
weathered
soils)
Regosols(soft
loose soils)
All soils are predominantly coarse textured , well drained and calcareous
(calcium-bearing).

9. BIODIVERSITY
• The Thar Desert, seventh largest desert in the world, harbors several species
that have adapted themselves to survive in the harsh desert conditions.
• The floral diversity includes 682 species (63 introduced species), belonging to
352 genera and 87 families.
• The degree of endemism of plant species in the Thar Desert is 6.4 percent,
which is relatively higher than the degree of endemism in the world famous
Sahara desert.
• The faunal diversity represents 755 invertebrate and 440 vertebrate species,
including 140 bird and 41 mammalian species and the only known population
of the Asiatic wild ass.
• It is highlighted that sustainable use and management of this biodiversity is
necessary to support human and livestock needs besides conservation.

10. • The region is heaven for 141 species of migratory and resident birds of the desert. One
can see eagles , harriers,falcons, buzzards and vultures. Short toed eagles (Circaetus
galiicus),Tawny eagles (Aquila rapax), spotted eagles (Aquilla clanga), Falcons (Falco
jugger) and kestrels .
• There are also a number of reptiles.
•
• In addition to the larger antelopes and gazelles, there are several smaller species,
ranging from the very small antelope rat with long hind legs to carnivores such as grey
mongoose, the aggressive ratel or honey badger, desert fox, striped hyena, jungle cat,
Indian desert wild cat, and caracal.

11. • Natural vegetation in an arid climate is sparse and consists of perennial
and ephemeral plants.
• The shrubs are stunted, thorny and pricky.
• Xeromorphic features include deep roots, hard and fleshy stems, well-
developed spines or a covering of hairs, and leaves either absent or
coated with wax or hair to prevent excess evaporation.
FLORA

12. During the short rainy season, the barren visage of sand and rock changes
dramatically as masses of ephemerals sprout forth, changing the brown
landscape to vivid green.
 The plants in the desert have to depend on occasional showers at long
intervals. If the water level is so low to be out of reach, the plant becomes
dormant, lives in the shape of dust-like seeds. Those seeds, which have
survived , on the first showers burst into an intensely active life of any
short duration. They sprout, grow, flower , fruit and seed , all within two
to three weeks.

13.  There are about 30 plant species in arid zone known for their edible use and out
of these about 20 plant species are known for their edible fruits either raw or
use as vegetable.
(a) Khejri( Prosopis cineraria) : Vital to the ecology with its deep root system
penetrating up to 30 metres, it provides both fodder and food. Its pods are
gathered when green and cooked as a vegetable.
 The timber is used for houses, carts and furnitures.
 The dried bark and its paste are used to cure rheumatism.

14. (b) Ber ( Ziziphius mauritania) :
This tangy sweet fruit is rich in Vitamin C.
The leaves provide fodder, and the root, bark and fruit are used in traditional
medicine to treat inflammation, rheumatism and digestive materials.
 The bark and wood also yield a cinnamon- colored dye and tanning material.
(c) Kair ( Cappis decidua) :
 The fruit and flowers are cooked as a vegetable,usually with khejri pods.
 Powdered root bark is taken with hot water to cure asthma and cough, and as
a laxative.

15. (d) Rohida ( Tecomella undulata) :
 Commercially known as ‘ Desert Teak ‘
or ‘ Marwar Teak ‘ .
 It is the state flower of Rajasthan.
 It is the main source of timber
(e) Ber ( Ficus benghalensis) :
 It’s latex is used to treat rheumatic pains, the leaves cure abscesses and root
fibres are used to treat gonorrhoea.
 Bark paste with pepper is used against snakebites.
Monkeys, birds and bats relish the fruit, and the leaves are excellent fodder
for large animals.

16. FAUNA
• 2043 Species from single celled animals protozoa to Mammalia recorded from
Thar Desert. Thar Desert includes 619 Species are of vertebrates and rest are
invertebrates. Faunal diversity is about 2.12% of total Indian fauna. The Thar
occupies about 9% of the country (Gaurav Sharma 2013).
• Desert animals have adapted ways to help them keep cool and use less water, many
animals are nocturnal and coming out only when the brutal sun has descended to
hunt.
Blackbuck
• The blackbuck, scientifically known as Antilope cervicapra is found mainly in
India, where it is protected by wildlife laws. It is one of the most famous antelopes
native to the Thar Desert, but it is a near threatened species. The blackbuck stands
to around 2 feet (85 cm), and males have beautiful twisted, ringed horns up to 75
cm (30 in) long. Dark brown in color, blackbucks have a white circle around their
eyes and black stripes on their faces. They live in herds ranging from five to fifty
individuals.

17. Blackbuck
The Indian gazelle, also known as chinkara, is scientifically
called Gazella bennettii. Over 2 feet (65 cm) tall and a weight of
around 50 pounds, the chinkara has a buff-colored coat with dark
stripes from the muzzle to the corner of its eye. Their horns can
reach more than one feet in length. Chinkaras can go without
water for long periods of time, getting their hydration from dew
and the plants they eat, as they are ruminant herbivorous
animals. Chinkaras avoid areas where humans reside, so the
Thar Desert is a good habitat for them.
Indian Gazelle
Indian gazelle

18. Indian Wild Ass
The Indian or Baluchi wild ass (Equus hemionus khur)
is slightly larger than the donkey, as it weighs around
650 pounds and grows to more than 6'6'' (2 m) tall. You
can easily recognize the Indian wild ass because of its
beautiful sandy coat, which ranges from reddish gray to
pale yellow during the winter months and its dark stripe
extending down its back.
Indian wild Ass
Foxes
The desert fox, also known as the fennec fox, is 14 to 16
inches long and weighs only about 3 pounds. The fennec
fox is red and has a bushy tail up to 7 inches long. The
Bengal fox, also known as the Indian fox, is 18 to 24
inches long and weighs 5 to 9 pounds. The Bengal fox's
coat ranges from gray to brown and its tail is up to 14
inches long.

19. Desert Cat
The Asiatic wildcat is a small feline, weighing
around 7 pounds. It is carnivorous, as it preys on
rodents, rabbits and lizards. Its coat can have
different colors, from red to gray, and it may have
small black spots or stripes.The Indian desert cat
avoids those areas associated with human habitation
Desert cat
The Dromedary
The genus Camelus includes three different species: the
Bactrian or two-humped camel (C. bactrianus), the wild
Bactrian camel (C. ferus) and the dromedary (C.
dromedarius), recognizable because it has only one
hump.Dromedaries are native to the Thar Desert, as they
are well adapted to living in arid regions. It is about 5.9 ft
(1.8 m) tall and weighs about 900 pounds. They have a
single hump quite high on their backs, and they also have a
long tail. Their neck is long and curved, and their mouth is
quite large. The dromedaries of the Thar Desert are usually
black or brown in color

20. • Thar desert is home to more than 60 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 35
species of reptiles, 142 fish species and hundreds of insects along with 5 amphibian
species. In other words, the Thar Desert is home to many native animals. This stunning
diversity includes dangerous animals, such as sand boas (Erycinae) and cobras
(Elapidae).
The Indian Spiny-Tailed Lizard
Also known scientifically as Saara hardwickii, this small lizard is a spiny-tailed creature
found crouching in the Thar Desert. The Indian or Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizard is listed
as a vulnerable species, as it is hunted for meat and as folk medicine.
There are around 23 native species of lizards in the Thar Desert. They include geckos and
monitor lizards, which are the biggest genus of lizards in the Rajasthan area.

21. Saara Hardwickii
The desert snakes of the Thar
The Thar Desert is also home to 25 native species of snakes. These
include the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) and the rat snakes,
including the dhaman or Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa). Desert
snakes hide easily in the sand and hunt insects and lizards.
Echis Carinatus
Ptyas Mucosa

22. The Indian Spotted Eagle
The Indian spotted eagle (Clanga hastata) is one of the biggest flying predators
and threatened species found in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. This is also one
of the major attractions of the Thar Desert national parks.
These large, majestic birds with massive wingspan feed on partridges, doves,
spurfowl, and snakes. Other wild birds of prey found in the desert include the
Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), the Shaheen falcon (Falco peregrinus
peregrinator), and the white-eyed buzzard (Butastur teesa).
Clanga Hastata
Gyps Indicus
Falco Peregrinus
Bustastur Teesa

23. The Great Indian Bustard
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is among the heaviest flying
birds in India. There are four bustard species in the genus, but the Great
Indian Bustard is only found in the Thar Desert. The ground-dwelling Great
Indian Bustard stands at 3.5 feet in height and 30 pounds in weight; it has a
long neck and massive legs, and feeds on rats, ants, and insects. Sadly, it
is critically endangered.
The Thar Desert is a haven for 141 species of migratory and residential birds,
including the national bird of India, the peacock.
Ardeotis Nigriceps

24. REFERENCES -
1.Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India: anthropogenic influence on biodiversity and grasslands.
Authors - M. Zafar-ul Islam*yand Asad R. Rahman
2. The Thar or the Great Indian Sand Desert.
Author - Amal kar
3. The vegetation of thar desert
Author-malini saigal
4.Floral diversity of thar desert of western Rajasthan
Author:-P.D charan
5. A review on the Studies on Faunal diversity, status, Threats and Conservation of Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert
Ecosystem.
Author-Gaurav Sharma
6.Blackbuck and chinkara in the Thar Desert .
Author –Asad R.Rahmani ,Ravi sanka
7.Native animals of the Thar desert by janhvi johorey
8. Bhandari,M.M.1978. Flora of the Indian Desert
9. Balasubramanian A.Biodiversity profile of India.Technical Report DOI : 10.13140/RG.2.2.10664.57601.2017