Hibernation vs Estivation: What’s the Difference?

The difference at a glance

Hibernation is a response to winter cold and low food supply. Estivation is a similar state triggered by extreme summer heat and drought.

What does Hibernation mean?

noun · /ˌhaɪ.bəˈneɪ.ʃən/

A state of deep winter sleep in certain animals — bears, hedgehogs, bats — during which body temperature drops, heart rate slows drastically, and metabolic activity reduces to a minimum.

Hibernation in a sentence

A hibernating bear's heart rate drops to eight beats per minute — and they can remain in this state for seven months.

She jokingly declared hibernation season every November, pulling back from social obligations until spring.

What does Estivation mean?

noun · /ˌɛs.tɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

A state of dormancy or inactivity adopted by certain animals during summer or hot, dry periods — the summer equivalent of hibernation. Lungfish, land snails, some amphibians, and desert tortoises estivate, sealing themselves against desiccation.

Estivation in a sentence

African lungfish estivate in the dried mud of seasonal rivers — metabolism dropping to one-sixtieth of normal until the rains return.

Snails seal themselves in their shells with a mucus membrane during drought, estivating for months until humidity returns.

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