brumation

Brumation is a state of sluggishness or torpor exhibited by reptiles and amphibians during periods of low temperatures, primarily in winter. It is distinct from true hibernation, which occurs in mammals. While brumating animals slow down significantly, they may still stir occasionally to drink water, unlike hibernating animals that enter a deep sleep and stop drinking.12

This term was coined in 1965 by zoologist Wilbur W. Mayhew to describe winter dormancy in cold-blooded vertebrates, as their physiological changes are independent of body temperature. Reptiles seek underground locations to avoid freezing, with the depth depending on soil conductivity and minimum temperatures. Brumation can be induced by cold, while extreme heat can lead to estivation, another form of dormancy.123