Consider the following : 1. Bats 2. Bears 3. Rodents The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals?

Option (C) is correct because all three groups—bats, bears, and various rodents (such as marmots and ground squirrels)—utilize hibernation as a survival mechanism to conserve energy during periods of food scarcity and cold. A common misconception is that only larger mammals hibernate, which might lead one to incorrectly exclude rodents, but many rodents are actually "true" hibernators that undergo profound physiological changes. The core concept being tested is physiological adaptation and energy conservation strategies used by animals to survive seasonal environmental stress.