question_answer 10)

Distinguish between: (a) Hibernation and aestivation; (b) Ectotherms and endotherms.  

Answer:

(a) Hibernation (winter sleep) is the period of dormancy and reduced metabolic rate during winter months mostly found in the poikilo-thermal animals like amphibians, lizards, snakes, etc. Aestivation (summer sleep) is the period of dormancy and reduced metabolic rate during summer months and is found in lung fish. (b) Endotherms are homeothermal or warm-blooded animals which can keep their body temperature constant even in changing environmental temperatures e.g. birds and mammals; while ectotherms are poikilothermal or cold-blooded animals are those whose body temperature changes with the change in environmental temperature e.g. fishes, amphibians and reptiles.