estivation
/ˌɛstɪˈveɪʃən/
noun
- A state of inactivity and reduced metabolic rate during a hot, dry period, similar to hibernation but in summer.
- Many desert snails enter estivation to survive the summer heat.
- The lungfish burrows into mud and undergoes estivation until the rains return.
- During estivation, the animal's heart rate and breathing slow down dramatically.