Xerocole

A xerocole (from Greek xēros /ˈzɪroʊs/ 'dry', and Latin col(ere) 'to inhabit'),^[2]^[3]^[4] is a general term referring to any animal that is adapted to live in a desert. The main challenges xerocoles must overcome are lack of water and excessive heat. To conserve water they avoid evaporation and concentrate excretions (i.e. urine and feces).^[1] Some are so adept at conserving water or obtaining it from food that they do not need to drink at all. To escape the desert heat, xerocoles tend to be either nocturnal or crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk).

^ ^a ^b Nakate, Shashank (20 September 2011). "Desert Animals List". Buzzle. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
^ "xero-". The New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, Inc. 2005.
^ Aldrich, Chris (1 December 2002). "–COLE". The Aldrich Dictionary of Phobias & Other Word Families. Trafford Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 9781553698869.
^ Barrows, Edward M. (20 April 2011). Animal Behavior Desk Reference: A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. Taylor & Francis US. p. 99. ISBN 9781439836514.

[buzzle-1] Nakate, Shashank (20 September 2011). "Desert Animals List". Buzzle. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.

[2] "xero-". The New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, Inc. 2005.

[3] Aldrich, Chris (1 December 2002). "–COLE". The Aldrich Dictionary of Phobias & Other Word Families. Trafford Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 9781553698869.

[4] Barrows, Edward M. (20 April 2011). Animal Behavior Desk Reference: A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. Taylor & Francis US. p. 99. ISBN 9781439836514.

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