What term describes the condition of a desert mouse that lowers its metabolic rate and "sleeps" during the hot day?

turgid

hibernation

estivation

normal sleep pattern

Estivation

The correct answer is C. Estivation

Explanation:

In biology, estivation refers to a lethargic state that is mainly prompted by high temperatures, different from hibernation that occurs in the winter or at low temperatures. However, as hibernation estivation implies the organism of animals lowers the metabolic rate with the purpose of avoiding to die due to the high temperatures and the lack of resources including water. This can occur in both vertebrate and intervertebral animals including small animals. This implies, the mouse described which is a small animal probably is going through estivation as due to hot temperatures the organism lowers the metabolic rate, which is exactly what occurs in this process.