Many of them plug the entrance to their burrows to keep out the hot, desiccating air.

But their small body size means that they can gain or lose body heat rapidly. Rodents can burrow into the ground or hide in rocky crevices to avoid the mid-day heat. Being small has its advantages and disadvantages. Thus, few desert mammals use perspiration or panting as their main method of keeping cool.Д«ecause scarcity of food in the desert limits the number of large mammals that can be supported, most desert mammals are small. Where water is in short supply, animals must minimize water loss. Both methods work well, but they have an important drawback for life in the desert. Some mammals use panting to produce the same effect. When most mammals get hot they perspire, and the evaporation of this water cools them down and helps maintain a constant body temperature. Mammals can endure a large range of air temperatures, but are unable to tolerate even a small change in body temperature without encountering problems. This has advantages and disadvantages in the desert. Mammals, including humans have the ability to maintain a constant body temperature regardless of external conditions. The chief obstacles to survival in the desert are lack of water, shortage of food, and extreme temperatures.

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