Studies on the thermoregulatory capabilities of a small desert insectivore, Eremitalpa granti namibensis, have revealed unusual features including a high rate of thermal conductance, a low basal metabolic rate, a low and labile body temperature and poor ability to thermoregulate. Two factors suggested to have selected for these physiological traits are the gaseous regime of the undersand environment in which moles burrow and the need to minimize energy expenditure in an energy sparse sand dune environment.