11
Surprising Animals That Hibernate
“Hibernation,
also called ‘winter sleep,’ is when an animal’s heart rate & body
metabolism go down drastically for days or months at a time in order to survive
the cold winter months.
...True
hibernation is when an animal falls into such a deep state it appears to be
dead. Whereas, torpor is a state when an animal’s heart rate & temperature
reduce, but they are able to move around when needed...
Marmots
Many
different species of rodents belong to the marmot family, such as groundhogs,
chipmunks, ground squirrels, & alpine marmots. They can hibernate for up to
8 months straight, while maintaining a body temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit
(3 degrees Celsius). During hibernation, they may take only 2-3 breaths per
minute & their heartbeat falls to 3-4 beats per minute.
Common Poorwill
...Some
populations of the common poorwill, native to western North America, hibernate
during colder months. This is the only bird known to hibernate. It can settle
underneath shallow rocks or rotten logs & stay there for up to 5 months...
Bears
...Bears
go into a state of torpor during winter, where they can wake up & move
around periodically. This allows bears to have their cubs during
hibernation...they can last as long as 100 days without food or water.
Snakes
Unlike
mammals, hibernation in reptiles is known as brumation. Reptiles are
cold-blooded, & therefore need to find warm hideaways to hibernate, such as
holes in the ground or rock crevices. Certain species, like garter snakes,
hibernate in groups to preserve heat. These are known as hibernacles, which can
hold hundreds of snakes at a time. The largest snake hibernacles in the world
are the Narcisse Snake Dens of Manitoba, Canada, where tens of thousands of
snakes gather to overwinter together.
Bats
...The
1,240 species of bats represent about 20% of all mammal species identified
worldwide....Big brown bats often spend up to 66 days hibernating in the
wild...
Lemurs
Despite
the fact they live in tropical climates, some species of lemur hibernate. The
fat-tailed dwarf lemur, native to Madagascar, hibernates for up to 8
months...During hibernation, they live off the fat in their tail & can lose
almost 50% of their body weight.
Turtles
...Water
turtles will bury themselves in mud & leaves at the bottom of a pond. Their
body temperatures drop & they stop breathing through their lungs. They
actually have specialized skin cells near their tail opening that provides
enough oxygen from the water to
survive. Land turtles will dig a burrow deep into the ground to ensure their
safety from predators & freezing temperatures over winter.
Insects
Insects’
way of hibernating is to go into a state called diapause, which is a long-term
suspension of life functions... If an insect overwinters as an adult, many
species will produce an antifreeze-like substance in their blood that protects
them from freezing temperatures. Moths, ladybird beetles, & bumblebees all
hibernate as adults.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs
are found throughout Europe, Africa, New Zealand, & Asia. They tend to
maintain a constant body temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35
degrees Celsius), which can drop to 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius)
during hibernation...
Snails
Snails
can live up to 7 years in the wild. Although, in captivity they’re shown to
live up to 25 years. Their relatively long life span means they need to
hibernate over winter. They cover themselves with a thin layer of mucus to stay
hydrated. Then they bury themselves & close the entrance to their shells
with mucus. The mucus hardens to prevent predators from getting in during
hibernation.
Frogs &
Toads
In
colder climates, frogs often hibernate along creeks & in small crevices of
logs & rocks. They can store glucose in their bodies, which provides a food
source & prevents them from freezing solid during winter... Some toad
species are known to hibernate up to 3 or 4 years straight."
Zoe
Blarowski
Nov.
10/ 2016
care2.com
Cute Critter Pic
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