Biology 2003 JAMB Past Questions - Question 50: The inactive state exhibited by an animal during hot dry seasons is termed

Correct Answer

A

Explanation

Aestivation is a behavioural adaption in which some animals remain dormant during hot dry season e.g. snail seals itself within the shell with a slimy secretion which later hardens. The snail looks for a place that is cold and aestivates until rain returns. The slimy secretion breaks and the snail crawls about. Hibernation is also a behavioural, adaptation of some small mammals that remain dormant during extreme cold weather and food scarcity. They look f or safe a nd w arm p lace t o hibernate. During this period they do not eat, metabolic-activities and body temperature drop. They depend on their stored body fats e.g. bats and seal. Dormancy is a state of in activity to enable an organism to withstand unfavourable conditions like drought, winter' cold and food shortage. Seeds, buds of plants, spores, storage, organs like tubers and bulbs undergo dormancy.