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What’s the Difference Between Brumation and Hibernation?

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Swamp Fever
What’s the Difference Between Brumation and Hibernation?

Many significant changes happen to the environment and animals when temperatures drop. The days become shorter and plants grow slower. Many animals migrate to warmer regions. Some animals grow thicker fur for better insulation. Others will hibernate or bromate.

Most people are familiar with hibernation but not brumation. The two processes share certain similarities. But what’s the difference between brumation and hibernation? This article explores their distinct differences.

School taught us that hibernation is a survival strategy that warm-blooded animals use. Endotherms, as they’re also called, slow their metabolism during winter. They lower their body temperature and reduce their heart rate. They do this to conserve energy when food is scarce.

Hibernation has several critical characteristics. One is the significant drop in body temperature. Ground squirrels can lower their body temperature close to freezing.  There’s also a drastic reduction in metabolic rate. The animal’s heart rate and respiration slow down.

Hibernation is an extended sleep-like state. It can last several weeks to months. Hibernation animals make few movements. Some are still like a statue. One characteristic of hibernation is how animals create fat reserves. They will eat large amounts of food to store fat. These fat reserves are later used as energy sources. Bears are famous for hibernating.


Brumation is a dormancy period akin to hibernation. But it’s specific to cold-blooded animals or ectotherms. Amphibians and reptiles are examples of ectotherms. Ectotherms depend on external temperatures to heat their bodies. It’s a direct contrast to mammals that generate body heat.

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