aestivation

thumb|right|Theba pisana snails aestivating on [[Foeniculum vulgare in Montbazin, France]]

Aestivation ( (summer); also estivation in American English) is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions. It takes place during times of heat and dryness, which are often the summer months.