Examples of animals that hibernate embrace rodents such because the Alpine marmot, Arctic floor squirrel, japanese chipmunk, and groundhog; bats corresponding to the large brown bat, grey bat and whiskered bat; and different mammals together with the brown bear, black bear, and short-beaked echidna.
Non-mammalian animals that enter a state of dormancy just like hibernation embrace the widespread field turtle, widespread garter snake and wooden frog.
On this web page, you’ll discover out concerning the life of those and different animals that hibernate, plus attention-grabbing details on hibernation and related states of dormancy.
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What Is Hibernation?
Hibernation is a pure state of extended inactivity and lowered metabolism that some animals endure with a purpose to survive intervals of maximum chilly, meals shortage, or different unfavorable environmental situations.
Hibernation is an important survival technique that permits animals to beat harsh situations and keep their power reserves till favorable situations return.
Hibernation usually takes place in the course of the winter, and almost all animals that hibernate are present in areas that have harsh winters. (Only a few animals that hibernate are present in tropical areas.)
What Varieties Of Animals Hibernate?
Hibernation is primarily related to mammals corresponding to bears, bats, and rodents.
Different kinds of animals, corresponding to reptiles, birds, and bugs, can exhibit related states of dormancy, corresponding to brumation in reptiles and amphibians, torpor in birds, and diapause in bugs, to deal with unfavorable situations. Nevertheless, whereas these states resemble hibernation, they differ in length and depth of dormancy.
What Occurs To An Animal’s Physique When It Hibernates?
Throughout hibernation, an animal’s physique temperature, coronary heart charge, respiratory, and metabolic charge (the quantity of power it makes use of) considerably lower, permitting it to preserve power and depend on saved fats reserves.
How Lengthy Do Animals Hibernate?
Hibernation can final for a number of weeks to months, relying on the species and environmental elements.
Which Animal Has The Longest Hibernation?
The Arctic floor squirrel (Urocitellus parryii) holds the document for the longest hibernation. These squirrels are native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas of North America, the place they hibernate for as much as 8-9 months, relying on the latitude and native situations.
Estivation Vs Hibernation
Estivation (aestivation in British English) is a state of dormancy that some amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates enter to outlive intervals of maximum warmth, drought, or meals shortage. Much like hibernation, aestivation includes a lower in metabolic charge, coronary heart charge, and respiration, permitting the animal to preserve power and reduce water loss.
Nevertheless, whereas hibernation primarily helps animals face up to chilly temperatures and harsh winter situations, aestivation permits them to endure scorching and dry environments.
Listing Of Animals That Hibernate
Different Animals That Turn into Seasonally Inactive
Alpine Marmot
Scientific identify: Marmota marmota
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: European Alps, Carpathian Mountains, Tatra Mountains, and Balkan Mountains
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Alpine marmots are giant ground-dwelling squirrels, with a thickset physique and brief legs. They’ve a rough coat that’s reddish-brown to grayish-brown. These European rodents dwell in burrows in alpine meadows and are social animals, residing in household teams.
Hibernation: Alpine marmots hibernate for about 7 months in the course of the winter in deep burrows, with a number of people sharing the identical burrow to preserve heat.
Arctic Floor Squirrel
Scientific identify: Urocitellus parryii
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: Northern areas of North America, notably Alaska, Canada, and Siberia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Arctic floor squirrels have a compact physique with brief legs and a bushy tail. They’ve a coat that’s grayish-brown flecked with white spots. They dwell in burrows in tundra and boreal forest habitats.
Hibernation: Arctic floor squirrels hibernate for 7-8 months in the course of the winter, with some having the longest and deepest hibernation of any identified mammal, permitting their physique temperature to drop under freezing. Whereas hibernating, an Arctic floor squirrel’s coronary heart beats simply as soon as per minute.
Large Brown Bat
Scientific identify: Eptesicus fuscus
Household: Vespertilionidae
The place discovered: North and Central America, from southern Canada to northern South America
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Large brown bats are medium-sized bats with a wingspan of 32-40 cm. They’ve a brown fur with a lighter-colored stomach. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and concrete areas, and are insectivorous.
Hibernation: Large brown bats hibernate in the course of the winter months in caves, mines, or buildings, forming small clusters or hibernating individually.
American Black Bear
Scientific identify: Ursus americanus
Household: Ursidae
The place discovered: North America, from Alaska to Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Black bears are medium-sized bears with a thick, black or darkish brown fur. They’ve a broad head, a brief tail, and a big physique. They’re omnivorous and inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, swamps, and mountains.
Hibernation: Black bears hibernate in the course of the winter months, normally for 3-7 months. They den in pure cavities, corresponding to caves or hole bushes, or create dens by excavating soil.
Brown Bear
Scientific identify: Ursus arctos
Household: Ursidae
The place discovered: North America, Europe, and Asia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Brown bears are giant bears with a hump on their shoulders and lengthy, thick fur that ranges from gentle brown to darkish brown in shade. They’ve a big head and robust, curved claws. They’re omnivorous and inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, tundra, and mountains.
Brown bears present in North America are often called “grizzly bears”.
Hibernation: Brown bears hibernate in the course of the winter months for 3-8 months, relying on the area. They den in pure cavities, corresponding to caves or hole bushes, or create dens by excavating soil.
The polar bear, a detailed relative of the brown bear, doesn’t hibernate.
Japanese Chipmunk
Scientific identify: Tamias striatus
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: Japanese North America, from southeastern Canada to the japanese United States
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Japanese chipmunks are small rodents with a physique size of 20-30 cm and a bushy tail. They’ve a reddish-brown coat with darkish and light-weight stripes on their again and head. They dwell in deciduous forests and feed on seeds, nuts, and bugs.
Hibernation: Japanese chipmunks hibernate in the course of the winter months, however not like different hibernators, periodically awaken to feed meals saved of their burrows.
European Hedgehog
Scientific identify: Erinaceus europaeus
Household: Erinaceidae
The place discovered: Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to western Russia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: European hedgehogs are small mammals with a physique size of 20-30 cm and a brief tail. They’ve a coat of dense spines on their again and sides, with fur on their face and stomach. They’re nocturnal, insectivorous animals that dwell in quite a lot of habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and gardens.
Hibernation: European hedgehogs hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from November to March or April. They create nests of leaves and grasses in sheltered places, corresponding to beneath bushes or in piles of leaves.
Fats-Tailed Dwarf Lemur
Scientific identify: Cheirogaleus medius
Household: Cheirogaleidae
The place discovered: Madagascar
Conservation standing: Weak
Description: Fats-tailed dwarf lemurs are small primates with a physique size of 20-28 cm and a tail that’s nearly equal in size. They’ve a grey or brown fur and enormous, spherical eyes. They’re nocturnal and arboreal animals, feeding primarily on fruits and nectar.
Like all lemurs, the fat-tailed dwarf lemur is discovered solely on the African island-country, Madagascar.
Hibernation: Fats-tailed dwarf lemurs are the one identified primates to hibernate. They hibernate for as much as seven months in the course of the dry season in tree holes, counting on their saved fats of their tails as an power supply.
The Fats-tailed dwarf lemur’s hibernation could also be a contributory issue to its having a considerably longer lifespan than associated animals of an identical dimension.
Backyard Dormouse
Scientific identify: Eliomys quercinus
Household: Gliridae
The place discovered: Europe and northern Africa, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caucasus and Morocco to Tunisia
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
Description: Backyard dormice are small rodents with a physique size of 10-15 cm and a bushy, bicolored tail. They’ve a grey or brown fur with a white stomach and a attribute black masks round their eyes. They’re nocturnal animals that dwell in numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and gardens, feeding on bugs, fruits, seeds, and small vertebrates.
Hibernation: Backyard dormice hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to April. They create nests in sheltered places, corresponding to tree cavities, deserted hen nests, or burrows.
Grey Bat
Scientific identify: Myotis grisescens
Household: Vespertilionidae
The place discovered: Southeastern United States
Conservation standing: Weak
Description: Grey bats are medium-sized bats with a wingspan of 28-33 cm. Because the identify suggests, their fur is grey. They inhabit numerous habitats close to water sources, corresponding to caves, forests, and wetlands, and are insectivorous.
Hibernation: Grey bats hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from November to April, in caves. They kind giant clusters in hibernation websites, with their physique temperatures dropping near the ambient temperature to preserve power.
Larger Horseshoe Bat
Scientific identify: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Household: Rhinolophidae
The place discovered: Europe, North Africa, and elements of Asia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Larger horseshoe bats are medium-sized bats with a wingspan of 34-40 cm. They’ve brown fur with a lighter-colored stomach and a horseshoe-shaped noseleaf. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and caves, and are insectivorous.
Hibernation: Larger horseshoe bats hibernate in the course of the winter months in caves, mines, or tunnels. They cling individually or kind small clusters, with their physique temperature dropping to close the ambient temperature to preserve power.
Groundhog
Scientific identify: Marmota monax
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: North America, from Alaska to the japanese United States
Conservation standing: Least Concern
No checklist of animals that hibernate can be full with out the groundhog, the North American rodent whose look within the film Groundhog Day made it one of many world’s most well-known hibernators!
Groundhogs, often known as woodchucks, are giant ground-dwelling squirrels, with a thickset physique and brief legs. They’ve a rough coat that’s reddish-brown to grayish-brown in shade. These giant rodents dwell in burrows in quite a lot of habitats, together with forests, grasslands, and suburban areas.
Hibernation: Groundhogs hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to February or March, in deep burrows. They enter a state of torpor with a considerably lowered coronary heart charge, physique temperature, and metabolic charge to preserve power.
Hazel Dormouse
Scientific identify: Muscardinus avellanarius
Household: Gliridae
The place discovered: Europe, from the British Isles to western Russia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Hazel dormice are small rodents with a physique size of 6-9 cm and a bushy tail. They’ve golden-brown fur with a white stomach. They’re arboreal (tree-dwelling), nocturnal animals that dwell in deciduous forests. They feed on bugs, fruits, and seeds.
Hibernation: Hazel dormice hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to April, in nests positioned on or close to the bottom. They enter a state of torpor with a lowered coronary heart charge, physique temperature, and metabolic charge to preserve power.
Hoary Bat
Scientific identify: Lasiurus cinereus
Household: Vespertilionidae
The place discovered: North and South America, from Canada to Argentina
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Hoary bats are giant bats with a wingspan of 40-43 cm. They’ve dense, frosty-gray fur with a lighter-colored stomach. They’re solitary, nocturnal animals that inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests and grasslands. They’re insectivorous (insect-eaters).
Hibernation: Hoary bats are migratory bats that journey south to hotter climates in the course of the winter months.
Till just lately, it was thought that the species didn’t hibernate, as an alternative coming into a state of torpor in periods of unfavorable climate or low meals availability. Nevertheless, a examine printed in 2016 (supply) demonstrates that at the least some hoary bats do hibernate for as much as 6 months in the course of the winter.
Northern Lengthy-Eared Bat
Scientific identify: Myotis septentrionalis
Household: Vespertilionidae
The place discovered: North America, from the japanese United States to the southern elements of Canada
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
Description: Northern long-eared bats are small bats with a wingspan of 23-26 cm. They’ve brown fur with a lighter-colored stomach and attribute lengthy ears. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests and grasslands, and are insectivorous.
Hibernation: Northern long-eared bats hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to April, in caves, mines, or tunnels. They typically select chilly, humid places inside these hibernacula, hanging individually or in small clusters.
Quick-Beaked Echidna
Scientific identify: Tachyglossus aculeatus
Household: Tachyglossidae
The place discovered: Australia, together with Tasmania, and elements of New Guinea
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Quick-beaked echidnas are small, egg-laying mammals with a physique size of 30-45 cm. They’ve a particular look with a physique coated in spines and fur, a protracted snout, and a brief tail. They’re primarily insectivorous, feeding primarily on ants and termites.
Hibernation: Quick-beaked echidnas hibernate in the course of the Australian winter, retreating to their burrows between March and April, and rising from June to August.
13-Lined Floor Squirrel
Scientific identify: Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: North America, notably within the Nice Plains area of the US and Canada
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: 13-lined floor squirrels are small ground-dwelling squirrels with a physique size of 20-30 cm and a brief tail. They’ve a coat that’s tawny to gentle brown with 13 alternating darkish and light-weight stripes on their again. They dwell in grasslands and feed on seeds, bugs, and small vertebrates.
Hibernation: 13-lined floor squirrels hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to March or April, in deep burrows.
Vancouver Island Marmot
Scientific identify: Marmota vancouverensis
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Conservation standing: Critically Endangered
Description: Vancouver Island marmots are giant ground-dwelling squirrels with a thickset physique and brief legs. They’ve chocolate-brown fur with a white patch on the nostril and brow. They dwell in alpine meadows and subalpine forests.
Hibernation: Vancouver Island marmots hibernate for about 7 months in the course of the winter in deep burrows, with a number of people sharing the identical burrow with a purpose to preserve heat.
Whiskered Bat
Scientific identify: Myotis mystacinus
Household: Vespertilionidae
The place discovered: Europe and elements of Asia
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Whiskered bats are small bats with a wingspan of 21-25 cm. They’ve brown fur with a lighter-colored stomach and a particular fringe of hairs across the snout. They inhabit numerous habitats close to water sources, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and are insectivorous.
Hibernation: Whiskered bats hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from October to April, in caves, mines, or tunnels. They cling individually or kind small clusters.
Yellow-Bellied Marmot
Scientific identify: Marmota flaviventris
Household: Sciuridae
The place discovered: Western North America, from southwestern Canada to the western United States
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Yellow-bellied marmots are giant ground-dwelling squirrels with a thickset physique and brief legs. They’ve a coat that’s brown to reddish-brown with a yellowish stomach. They dwell in rocky habitats, corresponding to mountains and grasslands, and feed on grasses, flowers, and seeds.
Hibernation: Yellow-bellied marmots hibernate in the course of the winter months, usually from September to April or Might, in deep burrows.
Different Animals That Turn into Seasonally Inactive
Though hibernation is discovered solely in mammals, many different animals exhibit comparable prolonged intervals of inactivity as a way on conserving power in the course of the colder months. Beneath are some examples of animals apart from mammals that seasonally “hibernate”.
Antarctic Yellowbelly Rockcod
Scientific identify: Notothenia coriiceps
Household: Nototheniidae
The place discovered: Southern Ocean, notably across the Antarctic Peninsula and subantarctic islands
Conservation standing: Not Evaluated
Description: Antarctic yellowbelly rockcod, often known as black rockcod, are fish with a physique size of as much as 60 cm. They’ve a darkish brown to olive-green coloration with a yellowish stomach. They inhabit rocky areas and feed on invertebrates and different fish.
Hibernation: Though not true hibernators, Antarctic yellowbelly rockcod are uncommon amongst fish as they do decrease their metabolism in the course of the winter, coming into a state of dormancy similar to hibernation in mammals. (supply)
Widespread Field Turtle
Scientific identify: Terrapene carolina
Household: Emydidae
The place discovered: Japanese United States
Conservation standing: Weak
Description: Widespread field turtles are small, terrestrial turtles with a high-domed carapace that’s brown to black with yellow or orange markings. They’ve a hinged plastron, permitting them to shut their shell fully. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and feed on quite a lot of vegetation and animals.
Hibernation: Widespread field turtles, like a number of different species of turtle, enter a state of brumation in the course of the winter months. The widespread field turtle’s brumation takes place from October to March, in burrows or beneath leaf litter.
Widespread Japanese Bumble Bee
Scientific identify: Bombus impatiens
Household: Apidae
The place discovered: Japanese North America
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: The commonest bumblebees within the Japanese United States, widespread japanese bumblebees have a black physique with a yellow band on the thorax and first stomach section, and are between 8-17 mm in size. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and gardens, and feed on nectar and pollen from flowers.
Hibernation: As with most bumblebees, solely fertilized queen widespread japanese bumble bees overwinter, usually in small burrows or beneath leaf litter. Right here, they enter a state of torpor with a lowered metabolic charge to preserve power. The remainder of the colony, together with employees and males, dies off within the fall.
Widespread Garter Snake
Scientific identify: Thamnophis sirtalis
Household: Colubridae
The place discovered: North America, from Alaska to Central America
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Widespread garter snakes are small to medium-sized snakes with a physique size of 46-137 cm. They’ve a darkish physique with three longitudinal stripes that may be yellow, blue, or white. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and feed on quite a lot of prey, together with amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
Hibernation: The widespread garter snake enters a state of brumation in the course of the winter months, usually from October to March, in communal dens or burrows. Throughout this time, the snake’s metabolic charge and physique temperature each lower.
Widespread Poorwill
Scientific identify: Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Household: Caprimulgidae
The place discovered: Western North America
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Widespread poorwills are small, nocturnal birds with a physique size of 19-21 cm. They’ve a mottled grey and brown plumage, which offers wonderful camouflage. They inhabit arid and semi-arid habitats, corresponding to deserts, shrublands, and grasslands, and feed on bugs.
Hibernation: The widespread poorwill is exclusive amongst birds because it enters a state of prolonged torpor just like hibernation in the course of the winter. Throughout torpor, which may final for a number of months, the hen’s metabolic charge, coronary heart charge, and physique temperature lower considerably.
Monarch Butterfly
Scientific identify: Danaus plexippus
Household: Nymphalidae
The place discovered: North, Central, and South America
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Monarch butterflies are giant, brightly coloured butterflies with a wingspan of 8.5-12.5 cm. They’ve an orange and black sample on their wings with white spots alongside the sides. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and gardens, and feed on the nectar of flowers.
Hibernation: Monarch butterflies are migratory bugs, with japanese North American populations touring to central Mexico in the course of the winter months. They don’t hibernate however do overwinter in a state of reproductive diapause, through which their reproductive improvement is paused. Throughout this time, the butterfly is basically inactive, resting – typically in giant numbers – in bushes.
Texas Horned Lizard
Scientific identify: Phrynosoma cornutum
Household: Phrynosomatidae
The place discovered: South-central United States and northern Mexico
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Texas horned lizards are small, flattened lizards with a physique size of 6.5-10 cm. They’ve a brown or grey physique with quite a few spines and two giant horns on their head. They inhabit arid and semi-arid habitats, corresponding to deserts, grasslands, and scrublands, and feed totally on ants.
Hibernation: Texas horned lizards enter a state of brumation in the course of the winter months, usually from November to February, in burrows or beneath rocks. Throughout this time, the lizard’s metabolic charge and physique temperature lower with a purpose to preserve power.
Wooden Frog
Scientific identify: Lithobates sylvaticus
Household: Ranidae
The place discovered: North America, from the northeastern United States to Alaska and northern Canada
Conservation standing: Least Concern
Description: Wooden frogs are small to medium-sized frogs with a physique size of three.5-7.5 cm. They’ve brown or reddish-brown pores and skin with a darkish, mask-like marking round their eyes. They inhabit numerous habitats, corresponding to forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and feed on quite a lot of bugs and different invertebrates.
Hibernation: Wooden frogs enter a state of hibernation in the course of the winter months, usually from October to March, beneath leaf litter or in shallow burrows. They will tolerate freezing of their physique fluids, which permits them to outlive in extraordinarily chilly temperatures. Their metabolic charge decreases considerably to preserve power throughout hibernation.
Do Reptiles Hibernate?
Reptiles, being ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, depend on exterior warmth sources to manage physique temperature. In consequence, throughout chilly seasons or when environmental temperatures drop, they might enter a state known as brumation, which has similarities to hibernation.
In contrast to true hibernation, which is extra widespread amongst mammals, reptiles in brumation should still be considerably lively, often basking to heat up and even ingesting water.
The length and depth of brumation varies between reptile species and particular environmental situations. So, whereas reptiles don’t technically hibernate, they do exhibit an identical type of dormancy often called brumation to assist them survive colder situations.
You’ll find out extra about reptiles on this web page: Reptiles – The Final Information
Do Bugs Hibernate?
Bugs, as cold-blooded creatures, are considerably affected by modifications in temperature. To outlive colder months or unfavorable environmental situations, many bugs enter a state often called diapause, which has similarities to hibernation.
Diapause is a interval of dormancy characterised by lowered metabolic exercise, halted progress, and a lowered want for meals and water. Throughout diapause, bugs typically search shelter in protected areas, corresponding to beneath tree bark, in leaf litter, and even inside human-made constructions.
Completely different insect species have various responses to environmental cues, which can set off diapause at completely different life phases, corresponding to eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults.
You’ll find out extra about bugs on this web page: Bugs – The Final Information
Do Birds Hibernate?
Birds, like mammals, are warm-blooded animals. Nevertheless, they don’t hibernate within the conventional sense. Having the ability to fly is a significant benefit throughout onerous occasions, and the principle technique adopted by birds for dealing with chilly temperatures and lowered meals availability throughout winter months is migration.
Some hen species are identified to enter a state known as torpor, which is a short-term, reversible hibernation-like state. Throughout torpor, birds considerably cut back their metabolic charge, physique temperature, and different physiological processes to preserve power. Nevertheless, the widespread poorwill (talked about within the checklist of animals that hibernate above) is the one hen identified to enter torpor for an prolonged time frame.
You’ll find out extra about birds on this web page: Birds – The Final Information
Additional Studying
Animals – The Final Information
Mammals – The Final Information
