Ranging from 3,500 to nearly 6,000 m mainly in Ladakh, the Central Tibet alpine steppe landscape has flat basins between high mountains with steppe vegetation comprised of small plants such as Stipa feather grasses, sedges, alpine forbs, and cushion plants separated by tracts of bare earth. Many areas have underlying permafrost. The ecoregion has alpine, specialised plants adapted to dry, desiccating conditions, harsh seasonal temperature extremes, short growing seasons, high solar radiation, and wind, including species of Leontopodium, Saussurea, Thylacospermum, and Arenaria. It has significant populations of endangered wildlife including the migratory Tibetan antelope or chiru, argali, and Tibetan gazelle, besides carnivores such as snow leopard and wolf.