Why do many desert animals live underground or emerge mainly at night?

Many desert animals live underground or emerge primarily at night as a behavioral adaptation to avoid the extreme heat and water loss associated with daytime desert conditions.12

By remaining in cool, underground burrows during the heat of the day, these animals can maintain a more stable body temperature and minimize the risk of overheating. Nocturnal activity allows them to forage for food when temperatures are significantly lower, which helps conserve water and energy that would otherwise be lost to thermoregulation or evaporation during the day.132

This strategy is particularly common among desert rodents, such as the jerboa, as well as many other mammals, reptiles, and insects that rely on these cooler periods to survive in arid environments.32