Nimruz, Afghanistan Photograph by Jerry Hassinger   Southern Asia: Southern Afghanistan into Pakistan and Iran Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   107,100 square miles (277,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Georgia and North Carolina combined Vulnerable

· Shelter in the Sand
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Shelter in the Sand

The sandy desert plains of this ecoregion are punctuated by stony hills and sand dunes that rise like exclamation points from the earth. Some sand dune ridges reach up to 50 feet (15 m) high. The shrubs and small trees that grow in these sandy conditions provide havens for a diversity of mammals and birds.

Special Features

Although little rain falls here--average precipitation ranges from only 6 to 12 inches (152 to 301 mm) per year--water is a vital part of this ecoregion. Small rivers, such as the Khash Rud, Harut, and Farah, and the larger Helmand and Arghanda Rivers flow from southern Afghanistan into the inland swampy lakes of Hamun-e-Sabori and Hanun-e-Puzak in eastern Iran. As a result, the soil here is composed of alluvial fans, sand, and a mixture of clay, loess, and rocky substrates. From 1,960 to 4,920 feet (600-1,100 m), shrubs, sedges, and meadow grasses dominate the vegetation. From 2,950 to 5,900 feet (900-1,800 m), pistachio and scrub vegetation can be found. Average precipitation ranges between 6 and 12 inches (150-300 mm). In January, temperatures can drop down as far as 42° F (6° C), while in the dry season it can reach up to 123° F (51° C).

	Kutch sheath-tailed bats can be found in abundance in the Registan-North Pakistan Sandy Desert. The bats are often captured by locals for their fat, which is thought to have medicinal value.

Wild Side

The mammals of this ecoregion are well adapted to its climate. Among the most widely distributed is the desert fox, which feeds on rodents, hares, reptiles, insects, and fruit. The seldom seen caracal cat, whose ears have conspicuous tufts of black hair, remains above ground even in the hottest desert areas when other animals are seeking shelter in underground burrows. The endemic rodent, Hotson's jerboa, is pale gray, which enables it to blend into the surrounding gravel plains and stony regions. The threatened chinkara, also known as the Indian gazelle, has reddish-buff and highly glossy fur, which reflects some of the sun's rays and minimizes heat absorption during the hottest periods. Birds are diverse and plentiful, primarily waterfowl. Land birds include the rufous-tailed shrike and the Siberian stonechat. This ecoregion is known for its distinctive reptiles, which include four endemic species of lizards, one endemic snake, and four types of toad-headed agamas. The Baluch plate-tailed gecko and the MacMahon's leaf-nosed viper are just two examples of endemic reptiles.

Cause for Concern

Grazing is so widespread that, in some places, the shrub vegetation cannot recover. Some ungulates such as the chinkara have been regularly hunted, which has led to its near extinction in certain areas. Lastly, the lack of protected area systems makes the entire ecoregion vulnerable.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.