What Is Dormancy In Animals?

It occurs in adverse weather conditions where species are unable to obtain food. During this period, the metabolism slows down, as well as vital functions, to save energy.

The biological period during which the body reduces its metabolism and vital functions is known as dormancy. Many species go through this process, which is related to climatic conditions.

Dormancy in animals: important data

Dormancy in animals is a mechanism within the biological cycle of many species, in which  the organism temporarily suspends the functions of growth, physical activity and development.

Basically, the individual is “asleep” because the climate around him is adverse – it happens mainly in winter – and he cannot get the food he needs to survive.

Within dormancy, we can find two types of synchronization: predictive and consequent. 

In the first, the organism enters a state of dormancy before the adverse conditions begin. The second type is more common in areas where the weather fluctuates unpredictably.

Types of dormancy in animals

Dormancy  allows animals to survive during months when food is scarce and the temperature is very low.

We can classify the different types of ‘siesta’ that animals perform:

1. Hibernation

It can be said that it is the best known of the “techniques”, but not the only one. Hibernation occurs  so that animals can escape the cold and food shortages during the winter months, and is of the predictive type.

Hibernating animals prepare several weeks in advance; some eat more and others hoard food in their burrows. In this way, they accumulate enough energy or supplies to survive.

Furthermore, in this dormancy phase, animals  undergo many physiological changes, including a reduction in body temperature and a decrease of up to 95% in heart rate.

Some examples of animals that hibernate are: bat, marmot, lemur, polar bear, hare, hedgehog (picture that opens this article) and squirrel.

1. Mist

It is the hibernation process performed by reptiles, but differs from the first due to the metabolic processes involved.

Haze starts in late autumn and before that the animals eat more than normal.

During this phase, which can last from one to four months, depending on the ambient temperature,  the reptiles wake up to drink water, but not to eat. Activity decreases and they therefore do not need to feed as much.

In haze, which is reactive because it is related to a decrease in temperature and a decrease in light hours, reptiles and some amphibians are in a semi-alert state.

1. Diapause

This strategy is predictive and is determined by the animal’s genetics. It is more frequent in insects – for example, beetle larvae – and in some mammals, such as European red deer.

In the first case, it reduces development between winter and spring and, in the second, it allows the offspring to be born when weather conditions are more favorable.

The  diapause appears to allow the animals to survive in extreme temperatures, lack of food or dry. Metabolic activity is reduced, as well as physiological needs.

It is also important to emphasize that, in addition to this,  this mechanism requires certain specific stimuli to terminate : contact with water, cooling or freezing.

1. Aestivation

Finally, another type of dormancy in animals is aestivation. It occurs in invertebrates, including earthworms and snails of the genus  helix , occasionally it can occur in lungfish.

This type of dormancy also  occurs in response to weather conditions, but unlike the other three forms, it  is caused by rising soil temperature or drought.

So keep in mind that certain animals that breathe through their skin need a moist habitat to survive.