Difference Between Hibernation and Aestivation

BY Team Aakash Byju's

Science Concept Note

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Hibernation

Hibernation or "Winter Sleep" is a state of physical or mental inactivity that the animals undergo to escape extreme cold conditions during the winter season.

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Aestivation

Aestivation or "Summer Sleep" is when an animal sleeps to escape from hot conditions during the summer season.

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Differences between hibernation and aestivation:

Animals that live in very cool places perform hibernation.

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Whereas animals that live in ponds and soil perform aestivation.

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Hibernation is the animals' unconscious sleep during the winter season.

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Whereas, aestivation is the unconscious sleep  of animals during the summer season.

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During hibernation, animals protect themselves from extreme cold conditions by digging a burrow deep in the soil. And they remain motionless until the conditions are favourable.

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During aestivation, animals that live in ponds and soil burrow deep in the soil and undergo unconscious conditions.

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In both conditions, the rate of metabolic activities slows down, and the animal goes into a nearly unconscious, sleepy condition.

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Animals like earthworms, frogs, bees, snails, etc., undergo aestivation during summer.

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Animals like bears, groundhogs, ground squirrels and some kinds of bats undergo aestivation.