HIBERNATION and AESTIVATION ~ another great feat by living organisms

a-condor (62)in #science • 8 years ago

I'm sure we've all seen an aestivating or hibernating animal somehow knowing or unknowingly.
When digging up the earths in the garden, we may see a snail with the open part covered with a white cyst. Note that its not an empty shell but has someone aestivating.
Or you see a bat in a corner or a cave with its body wrapped up in it wings. Its definitely hibernating.

HIBERNATION

is a process by which animals go into a resting state by slowing down all body metabolic activities during or throughout winter or cold period. It is a also known as winter sleep.
Hibernation is characterised by a reduced body temperature from 37-38°C to about 20°C to even 10°C in some cases, a reduced heart rate of about 80%, low breathing rate and very littleor maybe no metabolic activity.
Animals that hibernate includes: Deer mouse, Squirrels, Hamsters, Bats, Hedgehogs, and surprisingly, Goldfishes and Bears.

Animals often use this process to avoid the risk of being starved to death.

AESTIVATION

entails all that occur during hibernation only that it does so during summer or hot, dry periods. It is also known as summer sleep.
Animals that aestivate include Snails, Crabs, Crocodiles, Salamanders, Turtles, Snakes, Toads ,Frogs............