Final answer:
Torpor is a long, seasonal hibernation characterized by a cessation of activity. It enables animals to conserve energy and survive adverse conditions by reducing metabolic activity and body temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Torpor is a long, seasonal hibernation characterized by a cessation of activity. This state of reduced metabolic activity and decreased body temperature allows animals to conserve energy and survive adverse conditions such as extreme cold or hot, dry periods. For example, ground squirrels can achieve an abdominal temperature of 0°C (32°F) during hibernation, while bears maintain a higher internal temperature of about 37°C (99°F). Torpor can also occur on a daily basis, as seen in bats and hummingbirds, to conserve energy during colder periods of the day.