But there are mammals well-adapted to these conditions. Kangaroo rats conserve water by eating their own droppings. Lack of shelter can also be a problem for desert mammals, especially as deserts can swing from scorching days to cold nights. Some mammals, like naked mole rats, live underground all the time. Gundis, African creatures like guinea pigs, hide among rocks during the day, coming out in the morning and evening.
Camels can store enough food and fluids for days in the humps of fat on their backs.
They also have huge stomachs for taking in lots of grass and water when available. Lizards survive in the desert by sheltering during the heat of the day and expending little energy. The fennec fox survives in the north African desert by resting in a burrow by day and hunting only at night. Its large ears help to keep it cool by radiating heat.