Aestivation facts for kids

Introduced Theba pisana snails taking a break on fence posts in Kadina, South Australia.

Aestivation is a special state of rest that some animals enter. It's like a deep nap or a period of "sleep" where they become very inactive. Their bodies slow down a lot, which helps them save energy and water.

This state is a bit like hibernation, which animals do in winter to avoid the cold. But aestivation happens when it's hot and dry, usually during the hot, dry season. Animals do this to protect themselves from extreme heat and to avoid drying out.

What is Aestivation?

Aestivation is a type of dormancy, which means a period when an animal's growth and activity stop. When an animal aestivates, its body's normal functions slow down. This includes its metabolism, which is how its body uses energy. By slowing down, animals can survive when food and water are scarce.

This special resting state helps animals deal with tough conditions. It's their way of coping with very high temperatures and dry weather. Some animals have been doing this for a very long time, like lungfish since the Devonian period.

Why Animals Aestivate

Animals go into aestivation mainly to avoid two big problems:

• Extreme Heat: Very high temperatures can be dangerous for animals. Aestivating helps them escape the heat.
• Drying Out: When conditions are very dry, animals can lose too much water from their bodies. Aestivation helps them save water and avoid drying out.

Both animals that live on land and those that live in water can aestivate. It's a clever way for them to survive when their environment becomes difficult.

Who Aestivates?

Many different kinds of animals are known to aestivate. They include:

• Fish: Some fish, like lungfish, can bury themselves in mud when their ponds dry up. They stay there until the water returns.
• Reptiles: The Nile crocodile is an example of a reptile that can aestivate.
• Invertebrates: Many small creatures without backbones also aestivate. This includes many types of snails and even some lady beetles.

These animals use aestivation to get through periods when it's too hot and dry to find food or water.

Related pages

• Torpor
• Dormancy
• Hibernation

Images for kids

• 

  Theba pisana snails aestivating on Foeniculum vulgare in Montbazin, France

• 

  Many Cernuella virgata snails aestivating on a wire fence near Glanum, in the south of France.

See also

In Spanish: Estivación para niños