The inactive state exhibited by an animal during hot dry seasons is termed

The inactive state exhibited by an animal during hot dry seasons is called aestivation. During aestivation, animals reduce their metabolic rate and become inactive to conserve energy and water during times when resources are scarce. This is similar to hibernation, but instead of occurring during the winter, aestivation occurs during hot, dry periods when temperatures are too high for the animal to be active. Dormancy is a more general term that can refer to any state of reduced activity or suspended growth in an organism, while resting simply means taking a break from activity but not necessarily entering a state of reduced metabolic rate.