Final answer:
The desert fox displays nocturnal behavior mainly to avoid the desert's daytime heat, conserve water by staying cool, and make use of its night vision for hunting and predator avoidance. These adaptations help them regulate body temperature and conserve energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many desert mammals, including the desert fox, exhibit a nocturnal lifestyle for several reasons. The primary reason is to avoid the extreme heat of the desert during the daytime. By staying underground in their burrows, they keep cool during the hot day and conserve water, which is scarce in the desert environment. Another reason for nocturnal behavior is to make use of their night vision for hunting and to avoid predators that may be more active during the day. Lastly, being active at night when it is cooler may also allow the desert fox to be more efficient in its energy usage, as lower temperatures typically result in a decrease in the need for water and food.
While other factors, such as evading common predators and seeking out water sources, may influence their nocturnal habits, the primary driver for this behavior seems to be thermal regulation and energy conservation in the harsh desert climate.