Special Photography/Amazing Desert Animals

Deserts are often viewed as desolate and devoid of life. But author James Parry proves otherwise in his new book "The Desert" . All Images  by James Parry

 A seemingly unlikely sight as it crosses a salt pan, this Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) is probably searching for new feeding grounds or possibly a mate. Progress across open ground is slow and fraught with danger as predators are on the lookout for easy pickings. 

Few large mammals relish life on the open dunes, but the Gemsbok is in its element there. They are largely nomadic and whilst groups of up to 200 have been recorded, the average herd size is more like 14. Like other species or oryx, Gemsbok hardly ever need to drink, deriving adequate moisture from their food.

With outsized ears, the Black-tailed Jackrabbit is very distinctive. In addition to ensuring an extremely good sense of hearing, large ears also act as a cooling system. Heated blood circulates through the thin ear tissue and cools as it does so.

The Woma is a distinctively marked snake and one that thrives in a desert environment. The term “woma” or “wama” means snake or python in one of the Aboriginal languages. Like other pythons, this species lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.

Thorny Devils can live for up to 20 years and feed exclusively on ants. Mating takes place after an elaborate courtship ritual and the female later lays her eggs in an underground chamber, from which the young devils emerge, unattended, a few weeks later.

Research is revealing that Coyotes are more sociable than previously thought, with pair loyalty around which small family groups are maintained. However, Coyotes appear to hunt primarily on their own, unlike Wolves which almost always hunt collectively.

Blackbuck have an iconic status in India, and often feature in art and literature. Animals of the open plains, they are always alert and on the lookout for danger. When alarmed, they often leap into the air, a behavior known as “pronking.”

Rarely seen on the wing, the Great Indian Bustard is an impressive sight. Conservation measures are helping to ensure its survival in the Thar, but egg and chick losses are a serious problem in areas where livestock densities and levels of disturbance are high.

The village of Khichan in Rajasthan is famous for thousands of Demoiselle Cranes that arrive for the winter months. They are fed by villagers, who admire them for their pair fidelity and mainly vegetarian habits. Special enclosures have been built to feed the birds, which increase in number each year. The site has become a tourist attraction, and the commitment expressed by the community to these wild birds makes it an unusual and rewarding place to visit.

Gunnison Island in the Great Salt Lake has an important colony of American White Pelicans, with several thousand nesting here each spring. Pelicans are very sensitive to disturbance and whole colonies will abandon their eggs and young if disrupted.