How do antelope ground squirrels avoid overheating in desert habitats?

Antelope ground squirrels (genus Ammospermophilus) are rodents that remain active throughout the year in arid desert environments by employing specific behavioral mechanisms to manage heat stress.

To avoid overheating, these animals frequently retreat into cool underground burrows during the hottest parts of the day, re-emerging only when temperatures are more manageable. When they are active above ground, they position themselves to face away from the sun. In this posture, they utilize their long, wide, and bushy tails as a physical heat shield, arching the tail over their backs to provide shade and protection from solar radiation. These behavioral adaptations allow them to maintain their body temperature without the need for the deep hibernation cycles seen in many other ground squirrel species.1