Plants in dense dark brown to black cushions. Stem central strand strong, to ¹/3 stem diameter. Leaves 0.8-1 mm, apex obtuse to broadly acute, in section abaxial cells with thickened quasi-opaque external walls, basal lamina 1-stratose; largest distal leaves occasionally tipped with a hyaline apiculus of one or two cells, often eroded; costa in section with adaxial hyaline cells somewhat larger and more bulging than the semi-opaque thick-walled abaxial cells, costa with stereid cells present, two or more hydroids in the proximal leaf region, fewer to absent toward the apex; leaf cells smooth; basal cells with thicker transverse walls. Sexual condition autoicous; perigonia sessile, situated within the perichaetium projecting beyond the group of archegonia (synautoicous or cryptoicous), leaves short, suborbicular, broadly acuminate. Seta centrally attached, 0.7-1 mm. Capsule smooth (not plicate), composed of irregularly shaped thick-walled cells; peristome teeth erect, irregularly split in distal half into 2-3 filiform segments, irregularly perforate, spiculose, united at the base. Spores spherical, yellowish brown, 9-12 µm.

Mineral soil over calcareous sedimentary rock; moderate elevations (300[-5100] m); Alaska; Asia (Caucasus in Dagestan, China, Mongolia, Russia in Siberia); Africa (Chad).

Indusiella thianschanicais is found in arid situations, with the single North American specimen on thin, fine mineral soil over calcareous sedimentary rock.