Page 110 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

TIME OUT

Animals thrive when adequate food, water, and warmth
are available. But an animal’s environment can change
dramatically with the seasons, or even between day and
1 SUSPENDED ANIMATION
Tardigrades or water bears are night, especially in cooler, temperate parts of the world.
microscopic creatures that normally To survive less favorable conditions, such as extreme
live in water. If their surroundings cold or lack of food or water, some animals use resting
dry out, they curl up and shut down strategies, including hibernation, torpor, or estivation.
their body systems. They can stay in By being less active they conserve valuable energy.
this state of suspended animation
1
for more than 25 years, but come
back to life once water returns.

Hummingbird Wings beat so fast that American black bear
the bird must spend
all day searching for
energy-rich nectar 3

Tardigrade

2 4

Desert toad

2 ESTIVATION
The summer equivalent of
hibernation, estivation is
practiced by some animals in
hot countries. Land snails, for
example, seal themselves up to
avoid the summer heat and cling 3 WINTER SLEEP
together in a state of inactivity. In the fall, many bears enter a state 4 REPTILE REST
Desert toads survive underground, of rest called torpor—during which Reptiles, such as the North
emerging above ground their heart- and breathing rates American red-sided garter snake,
to lay their eggs drop considerably—to avoid cold that live in places with cold winters
only when the weather and food shortages. They take a winter rest called brumation.
rains come. prepare for torpor by eating Garter snakes gather together in a
greedily to build up fat reserves. sheltered location and become
Torpid bears sleep in dens, such sluggish as the temperature falls.
as hollow trees or caves, but are In spring, they emerge together
easily awakened. to enjoy the warmth.

108

(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

5/11/08 11:36:23
US_108_109_Time_Out.indd 108 12/1/09 12:50:44
108_109_Time_Out.indd 108