The following aspects of physiological adaptation and resource usage were examined in several species of arid-adapted African rodents: The effect of temperature on thermoregulation, metabolism, evaporative water loss and thermal conductance was studied in the North East African pigmy gerbil, gerbillus ppusillus; This gerbil did not strictly maintain homoeothermy and like most arid-adapted rodents had a reduced basal metabolic rate. When G. pusillus was maintained on an ad lib. food and water diet, its daily energy expenditure was similar to that predicted by mass. This increased to 116% of the expected allometric value when deprived of water. On a diet of air-dried millet seeds, increased kidney concentrating ability, reduced pulmocutaneous evaporation and a reduction in faecal water loss, were sufficient to impart virtual independence of exogenous water and the maintenance of a positive water balance. If food was restricted, G. pusillus utilized torpor to precisely balance energy expenditure with that available and so maintained a constant body mass. During torpor, assimilation efficiency was significantly reduced. The cost of maintaining coenothermia for the full duration of food processing would be prohibitive and it was estimated that it would have utilised approximately 50% of the daily energy available. The cost of employing torpor (0.5kJ.day-1) on the other hand was insignificant in comparison with the savings accrued by the use of torpor (32.25kJ. day -1). Parsimony of water loss with food restriction enabled the maintenance of a positive water balance during this period. The importance of micro-habitat in thermoregulation was investigated in Gerbillurus paeba, inhabiting the thermally stable confines of a plugged burrow, and in Aethomys namaquensis, a crevice dwelling rock rat. The rock rat, living in an environment characterized by large diet ranges, precisely controlled body temperature. It did this by compensating for its reduced basal metabolic rate, with a low rate of thermal conductance. Gerbillurus paeba tolerated a labile body temperature and used a high rate of thermal conductance to remove metabolic heat, for the high humidities it encountered in its milieu would impede the use of evaporative cooling. Daily energy expenditure of both Namib rodents. Was monitored when they were maintained on a low fibre food source (golden millet) and then when this was replaced with a high fibre food source (high-bulk bran). Aethomys namaquensis showed a DEE similar to that predicted by mass and this remained constant, irrespective of the food source or the presence or absence of water. The DEE of G. paeba was more variable. When water was freely available DEE was higher than that predicted by mass and was similar to that predicted for an insectivore of similar body mass. This might reflect its propensity towards an insectivorous diet. When water-stressed on a high fibre diet, DEE of G. paeba declined by half, suggesting that G. paeba employed torpor when conditions were stressful and when the quality of resources was reduced. On a low fibre diet, both species were able to maintain a positive water balance when deprived of water, showing similar reductions in water loss to that of G. pusillus. Low assimilation efficiency and the concomitant increase in faecal water loss precluded the maintenance of a positive water balance when they were fed a high fibre food source. Despite increased urine concentrations and reduced evaporative water loss both species succumbed to chronic water-deprivation. Daily water turnovers and urine concentrating ability was monitored in 17 species of African rodents from arid areas. In general, rodents belonging to the Cricetidae exhibited lower water turnovers and voided smaller volumes of urine at significantly greater concentrations than the murids. All these cricetid rodents were found to produce a crystalline precipitate of allantoin in their urine when water stressed. The quantities of crystalline allantoin excreted were far greater than that expected from purine catabolism and accounted for 30% of the total nitrogenous wastes of the cricetids when deprived of water. It was thought that the substantial quantities of allantoin excreted were responsible for the lower water turnover rates in the cricetids. It is suggested, therefore, when water is limiting, there is a shift in the nitrogen pathway from urea to allantoin, so conferring an eco-physiological advantage to these long term residents of the arid regions of Africa.