Question

What are hibernation and aestivation?
A. Thermal adaptation is shown by animals
B. Wind adaptation is shown by animals
C. Adaptation of animals to escape from predators
D. None

Answer 1

Hint: Hibernation and aestivation mean winter sleep and summer sleep of certain animals respectively. Here the word ‘sleep’ refers to a state of metabolic inactivity.

Complete answer: During the winter season, some animals attain a state called hibernation or winter sleep. It is the state of metabolic inactivity or low metabolic process. On the other hand, some animals have the same state of low metabolic activity during summer – it is known as aestivation or summer sleep.
Hibernation occurs for a longer period while aestivation takes less time. Hibernation protects the animal from internal damage due to low temperature. Aestivation protects the animal from water loss and damage due to high temperatures. So, both are types of thermal adaptations.

So, the correct option is A. Thermal adaptation shown by animals.

Note: Hibernation occurs in both warm and cold-blooded animals (some mammals, birds). Aestivation occurs mostly in cold-blooded animals (snails, frogs, earthworms, etc.)