aestivating
Torpid through heat
Aestivating is passing the summer in a dormant state—the warm-weather equivalent of hibernating.
Certain animals aestivate to survive hot, dry conditions: The lungfish buries itself in mud, aestivating until the rains return.
The British spelling; Americans write estivating.
Fish that breathes air
- snailsShelled terrestrial gastropods
- earthwormsSoil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
- frogsLeaping, croaking amphibians
- salamandersTailed amphibians, often aquatic
tortoises · crocodiles · hedgehogs · lemurs · beetles · ladybugs · mosquitoes · cicadas
Inactive, sluggish state
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- inactivityLack of movement
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- slumberLight, restful unconsciousness
stasis · suspended animation · repose · stillness · latency · metabolic depression · dormant · inactive
Digging to create shelter
- mud-dwellingLiving in wet soil
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- scorchingExtremely hot, burning
sweltering · drought · dry season · aridity · underground · shelter · refuge · moisture retention
Fitting to new conditions
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- water conservationMinimizing freshwater waste strategically
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
lungfish
Fish that breathes air
- snailsShelled terrestrial gastropods
- earthwormsSoil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
- frogsLeaping, croaking amphibians
salamanders · tortoises · crocodiles · hedgehogs · lemurs · beetles · ladybugs · mosquitoes · cicadas · crustaceans
torpor
Inactive, sluggish state
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- inactivityLack of movement
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
slumber · stasis · suspended animation · repose · stillness · latency · metabolic depression · dormant · inactive · slowdown
burrowing
Digging to create shelter
- mud-dwellingLiving in wet soil
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
scorching · sweltering · drought · dry season · aridity · underground · shelter · refuge · moisture retention · nocturnal
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- water conservationMinimizing freshwater waste strategically
preservation · energy conservation · hardiness · stress response