Re: hibernation

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Posted by EJ on April 25, 2001 at 13:05:03:

In Reply to: Re: hibernation posted by Tim Madsen on April 25, 2001 at 12:24:27:

Basicly 'brumate' does not exist or I have yet to find it in a dictionary. You are corret in that aestivation is used in plants that go dormant during a hot dry season. 'brumate' is typicaly used for reptiles since it was discovered that reptiles for the most part do not truely hibernate as in the case of mammals. So I guess I stand corrected (sort of) if you accept the present usage of brumate. The point was though, that there is a slow down period similar to what appears to be what is accepted as hibernation in many herps.
Ed

: : No, they don't hibernate but they do slow down dramatically in areas which cool down in the winter such as San Diego. You don't see them for days sometimes. You can call this an aestivation which is what most turtles/tortoises actually do. I'll be willing to bet I'd have no trouble finding a reference that leopards do this in the wild also.
: : Ed

: : : The Petsmart lady had a leopard tortoise she hibernated every winter? That in itself is a very scary statment to hear, especially since leopard tortoises don't hibernate and shouldn't ever be hibernated...they are a sub-tropical NON-HIBERNATING species. To force a non-hibernating species into *hibernation* can be harmful or fatal. Maybe you can clue your Petsmart lady in...and please check back with us for all your questions....

: I thought the proper term for the dormant state that reptiles go into when it's cold is brumation. My dictionary says aestivation means to go into a dormant state in the summer. Which is correct?

: Tim

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: Basicly 'brumate' does not exist or I have yet to find it in a dictionary. You are corret in that aestivation is used in plants that go dormant during a hot dry season. 'brumate' is typicaly used for reptiles since it was discovered that reptiles for the most part do not truely hibernate as in the case of mammals. So I guess I stand corrected (sort of) if you accept the present usage of brumate. The point was though, that there is a slow down period similar to what appears to be what is accepted as hibernation in many herps. : Ed : : : : No, they don't hibernate but they do slow down dramatically in areas which cool down in the winter such as San Diego. You don't see them for days sometimes. You can call this an aestivation which is what most turtles/tortoises actually do. I'll be willing to bet I'd have no trouble finding a reference that leopards do this in the wild also. : : : Ed : : : : The Petsmart lady had a leopard tortoise she hibernated every winter? That in itself is a very scary statment to hear, especially since leopard tortoises don't hibernate and shouldn't ever be hibernated...they are a sub-tropical NON-HIBERNATING species. To force a non-hibernating species into *hibernation* can be harmful or fatal. Maybe you can clue your Petsmart lady in...and please check back with us for all your questions.... : : I thought the proper term for the dormant state that reptiles go into when it's cold is brumation. My dictionary says aestivation means to go into a dormant state in the summer. Which is correct? : : Tim

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