Meaning & use
Brumation
Last updated
A state of dormancy similar to hibernation that reptiles and other cold-blooded animals enter during cold weather.
See it in a sentence
Snakes in colder climates go into brumation for several months each winter.
Unlike mammals, reptiles in brumation may still wake occasionally to drink water.
A note on using this word
Coined in 1965 by biologist Wilbur Mayhew, "brumation" was created specifically to distinguish reptilian winter dormancy from mammalian hibernation.
Words with a similar meaning
dormancy
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