Bradymetabolism

Bradymetabolism refers to organisms with

a high active metabolism and a
considerably slower resting metabolism.[1]
Bradymetabolic animals can often
undergo dramatic changes in metabolic
speed, according to food availability and
temperature. Many bradymetabolic
creatures in deserts and in areas that
experience extreme winters are capable of
"shutting down" their metabolisms to
approach near-death states, until favorable
conditions return[2][3](see hibernation and
estivation).

Several variants of bradymetabolism

exists. In mammals, the animals normally
have a fairly high metabolism, only
dropping to low levels in times of little
food. In most reptiles, the normal
metabolic rate is quite low, but can be
raised when needed, typically in short
bursts of activity in connection with
capturing prey.

Etymology
The term is from Greek brady (βραδύ)
"slow" and metaballein (μεταβάλλειν) "turn
quickly."

See also
ectotherm
homeotherm
bradyaerobic
tachyaerobic
tachymetabolic

Notes
1. Bligh, J., and Johnson, K.G., 1973.
Glossary for terms for thermal
 physiology. Journal of Applied
Physiology 35(6):941–961.
2. Endler J. A (1986). Fitness and
adaptation - Natural selection in the
wild. Princeton University Press.
ISBN 0-691-08387-8.
3. Mayr E . (1982). The growth of
biological thought: diversity, evolution,
and inheritance (1st ed.) . Cambridge,
Massachusetts: Belknap Press.
ISBN 0-674-36445-7.
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