Aestivation vs. Hibernation: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sumera Saeed || Updated on October 10, 2023
Aestivation is a dormant state during hot, dry periods; hibernation is a similar state during cold winters to conserve energy.
Key Differences
Aestivation refers to the voluntary inactivity exhibited by some animals during the summer or dry periods to avoid desiccation and excessive heat. On the flip side, hibernation is the kind of dormancy that occurs primarily in winter, where animals conserve energy by significantly reducing their metabolic rate.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
In terms of purpose, aestivation primarily serves to protect organisms from harsh, arid, and hot conditions by reducing their metabolic activity and therefore conserving moisture. Hibernation, conversely, allows animals to survive during cold periods when food is scarce, by utilizing stored energy slowly.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
The metabolic rate during aestivation is considerably lowered, allowing animals to survive for long periods without food and water. While during hibernation, animals also exhibit a dramatically reduced metabolic rate, conserving energy and surviving off stored fat reserves.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Physiologically, aestivation involves mechanisms to prevent dehydration, such as producing concentrated urine and reducing sweat. In contrast, during hibernation, an animal’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate decrease substantially to conserve energy.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Typically, aestivation is practiced by animals like snails, crocodiles, and some amphibians. Hibernation is commonly associated with mammals like bears, bats, and hedgehogs, although it is also observed in other animal groups.
Harlon Moss
Oct 10, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Word Origin
Latin (aestivatio, from aestas ‘summer’)
Latin (hibernatio(n-), from hibernare ‘spend the winter’)
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Use in Sentences
Usually used as a subject or object
Typically used as a subject or object
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
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Aestivation and Hibernation Definitions
Aestivation
Aestivation serves as a strategy to conserve energy and avoid desiccation.
Some snails use aestivation to retain moisture by sealing themselves in their shells.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of prolonged inactivity during winter months.
Bears are well known for their deep hibernation during winter.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Aestivation
Aestivation involves entering a state of dormancy during hot and dry periods.
The desert toad undergoes aestivation to survive the harsh summer.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Hibernation
Hibernation serves to conserve energy when external conditions are harsh.
Hedgehogs utilize hibernation to survive the winter when food is scarce.
Huma Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Aestivation
Aestivation involves metabolic rate reduction to minimize water loss.
Through aestivation, the lungfish can survive extended periods without water.
Huma Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
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Hibernation
Hibernation may involve periods of torpor interspersed with brief active periods.
Even in hibernation, some mammals experience brief moments of arousal and activity.
Sara Rehman
Oct 10, 2023
Aestivation
Aestivation typically occurs in arid and semiarid environments to endure drought.
During aestivation, certain animals seclude themselves in burrows to escape the dry conditions.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Hibernation
Hibernation is a survival strategy exhibited by various mammals, birds, and insects.
Bumblebees utilize hibernation to preserve the queen through the winter.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Aestivation
Aestivation is exhibited by various species, including amphibians, insects, and reptiles.
The African bullfrog performs aestivation by encasing itself in a mucous cocoon.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Hibernation
Hibernation involves physiological changes, including decreased metabolic rate.
During hibernation, ground squirrels exhibit a significant drop in body temperature.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Hibernation
To be in a dormant or torpid state during a cold period, especially during the winter.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 24, 2016
Aestivation
(biology) A state of inactivity and metabolic depression during summer: the summer version of hibernation.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 24, 2016
Hibernation
To be in an inactive or dormant state or period
"In Lawrenceville people hibernated and life passed them by" (Jacqueline Susann).
Sumera Saeed
Sep 24, 2016
Aestivation
(botany) The arrangement (vernation) of the parts of a flower inside a bud; prefloration.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 24, 2016
FAQs
What is aestivation?
Aestivation is a state of dormancy in hot, dry periods to conserve moisture and energy.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
What is hibernation?
Hibernation is a form of dormancy during winter, reducing metabolic activity to conserve energy.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Can hibernation occur in regions with milder winters?
Yes, hibernation can occur in regions with milder winters if food scarcity or environmental stressors drive organisms to conserve energy through dormancy.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
How do organisms breathe during aestivation?
Organisms typically reduce their respiratory rates during aestivation, and some, like amphibians, might rely on cutaneous (skin) respiration.
Janet White
Oct 10, 2023
How do animals prepare for hibernation?
Animals prepare for hibernation by accumulating fat reserves and often seeking or creating sheltered locations to endure the winter.
Janet White
Oct 10, 2023
What animals commonly undergo aestivation?
Animals like snails, some fish, and amphibians commonly undergo aestivation.
Huma Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Is aestivation common in desert environments?
Yes, aestivation is quite common in desert environments, helping organisms to survive extreme heat and dry conditions.
Sara Rehman
Oct 10, 2023
What triggers aestivation in animals?
Factors like elevated temperatures, decreased water availability, and food scarcity typically trigger aestivation in animals.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Is hibernation the same in all animal species?
No, hibernation can vary among species in aspects like duration, depth of torpor, and physiological changes.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
Can aestivation occur in aquatic environments?
Yes, aestivation can occur in aquatic animals, like certain fish species, to survive dry periods by burrowing into the substrate and reducing metabolic activity.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Do animals in hibernation eat or drink?
Generally, animals in hibernation do not eat or drink and survive using stored fat reserves.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
Is aestivation seen in mammals?
Yes, aestivation is observed in some mammals, such as the African hedgehog, to evade high temperatures and desiccation.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
How is energy conserved during aestivation?
During aestivation, metabolic rates are lowered, physiological functions are minimized, and physical activity is reduced to conserve energy.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
How does hibernation conserve energy?
Hibernation conserves energy by significantly lowering metabolic rates, utilizing stored fat.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
How do animals know when to come out of hibernation?
Animals often emerge from hibernation due to internal biological clocks and external environmental cues, like rising temperatures.
Sara Rehman
Oct 10, 2023
Do animals sleep during hibernation?
Hibernation is a state of dormancy with significantly reduced metabolic activity, different from regular sleep but it can resemble a deep, prolonged sleep.
Sara Rehman
Oct 10, 2023
Can any organism aestivate or hibernate?
Not all organisms aestivate or hibernate; these adaptations are specific to certain species that have evolved to cope with environmental stresses.
Janet White
Oct 10, 2023
How does aestivation prevent dehydration?
Aestivation prevents dehydration through mechanisms like reducing metabolic and physical activity, and in some animals, secreting substances to limit moisture loss.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
How do animals recover from aestivation?
After aestivation, animals gradually resume their metabolic and physical activities, often prompted by environmental changes like rainfall or cooler temperatures.
Sumera Saeed
Oct 10, 2023
Can human activities impact animals' hibernation patterns?
Yes, human activities, such as habitat disruption and climate change, can impact the hibernation patterns of various species.
Janet White
Oct 10, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
