How do desert mice maintain osmotic homeostasis? the sandy inland mouse (leggadina hermannsburgensis) is an australian desert mammal that can survive indefinitely on a diet of dried seeds without drinking water. to study this species' adaptations to its arid environment, researchers conducted a laboratory experiment in which they controlled access to water. nine captured mice were housed in individual cages and given birdseed (10% water by weight) to eat. in part a of the study, the mice also had unlimited access to tap water; in part b of the study, they were not given any additional water for 35 days, similar to conditions in their natural habitat. for each mouse at the end of each part of the study, the researchers measured the osmolarity and urea concentration of the urine and blood. g?