Estivation
From Free net encyclopedia
Estivation or aestivation (from Latin aestas, summer) is a state of dormancy similar to hibernation. Animals that estivate spend a summer inactive and insulated against heat to avoid the potentially harmful effects of the season. Some animals, including the California red-legged frog, may estivate to conserve energy when their food and water supply is low. Image:Australian-Lungfish.jpg Other animals that estivate include salamanders and lungfishes. The lungfish estivates by burying itself in the mud formed at the surface of a dried up lake. In this state, the lungfish can survive for many years. Other animals estivate in their burrow and wait for autumn to come.fr:Estivation he:תרדמת קיץ tr:Yaz uykusu