UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 77 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Hibernation Bats Bears Rodents

Consider the following:

1. Bats
2. Bears
3. Rodents

The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3 only
  4. Hibernation cannot be observed in any of the above
Show answer

Answer: C. 1, 2 and 3 only

Verdict

The answer is 1, 2 and 3 only. Hibernation or winter dormancy is observed in bats, bears and several rodents.

Analysis

Bats are classic deep hibernators, dropping body temperature close to ambient for long periods in caves. Many rodents, including ground squirrels, marmots and dormice, are among the most studied true hibernators. Bears enter a prolonged winter dormancy with reduced metabolic rate, heart rate and no feeding, and although specialists debate whether this counts as true hibernation because body temperature falls less, standard sources and this question treat bears as hibernating.

Source

Popular science material on animals that hibernate.

How to crack it

The fourth option denies hibernation entirely and can be discarded at once, since the bear is the textbook image of hibernation. That leaves only the question of rodents, and rodents are the group most associated with hibernation in temperate zones. Fuse the static biology with the news, since research on hibernation physiology appears periodically in science pages. Keep the companion term ready as well, because aestivation, dormancy in hot dry conditions, is the natural follow up question.

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