It lies between the more humid Mongolian–Manchurian grassland on the north, east, and southeast, and the drier Alashan Plateau semi-desert to the west.

Most of the ecoregion lies in closed basins, with intermittent streams that drain into salt pans and small ponds.

[1] The taana wild onion (Allium polyrhizum) is the main browse eaten by many herd animals, and Mongolians claim that this is essential in producing the proper, hazelnut-like notes of camel airag (fermented milk).

[3] Large mammals in the ecoregion include the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus), Mongolian saiga antelope (Saiga tartarica mongolica), Yarkand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), and marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna).

Native birds include the lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), MacQueen's bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), Pallas's sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus), Mongolian ground jay (Podoces hendersoni), greater sand plover (Charadrius leschenaultii), and Mongolian finch (Bucanetes mongolicus).