The "Hibernation" Experiment

[Eric Adrignola]

When an animal really hibernates, it really shuts down - you can't wake them. It's drastic metabolic slowdown.

Lizards (well, what we're talking about) don't hubernate. They shut off for the winter. They shut down, don't move, dont' eat or drink until they can warm up.

In Mid November, in the Raleigh area, it is usually cold - it's winter. but, in the Raleigh area, it will get into the 70's during the day in the middle of winter, on occation. On these November/December days, you'll see a TON of green anoles out and about. They always get into your house. They're back under logs by nightfall.

When I was in th eD.O.T, we did training on all sorts of critters, herps included. When we would do a herp training in the winter/early spring, all the reptiles were inactive, in brumination. But, we'd still find them, curled up under logs and plywood sheets. They'd wake up instantly, but were too cool to move. Often, the warmth of the sun and our hands woudl get them more active, and they'd move around as their temp rose. It was kinda neat.

It's pretty simple, they simply find a place to hide and sut down all non-esential functions. I woudln't be surprised if certain species of chameleons do the same thing.

Of course, some of them will just die instead. so be freaking careful!

 

[sruli]

I am going to revive this thread. I wonder if anybody has anything new to add. I never imagined that creatures from tropical climes would brumate, but I recently acquired a beautiful Argentine B&W Tegu - the behaviour cannot be denied.

So I went back and read some of my chameleon books - sure enough Bartlett says that montane species like Jackson's may indeed brumate to some degree... and that it may even have some relation to breeding. (Since Jackson's produces two clutches a year, I can't imagine how that works.)

One thing, I will be very careful to fatten up my reptiles during during July and August. It can't hurt, and they may be unlikely to take more food in, in winter, even if it is available. In retrospect, this could have been a contributing factor in certain events... has anybody noticed if deaths are more likely to occur in autumn?

 

[ciafardo 4]

When an animal really hibernates, it really shuts down - you can't wake them. It's drastic metabolic slowdown.

Lizards (well, what we're talking about) don't hubernate. They shut off for the winter. They shut down, don't move, dont' eat or drink until they can warm up.

In Mid November, in the Raleigh area, it is usually cold - it's winter. but, in the Raleigh area, it will get into the 70's during the day in the middle of winter, on occation. On these November/December days, you'll see a TON of green anoles out and about. They always get into your house. They're back under logs by nightfall.

When I was in th eD.O.T, we did training on all sorts of critters, herps included. When we would do a herp training in the winter/early spring, all the reptiles were inactive, in brumination. But, we'd still find them, curled up under logs and plywood sheets. They'd wake up instantly, but were too cool to move. Often, the warmth of the sun and our hands woudl get them more active, and they'd move around as their temp rose. It was kinda neat.

It's pretty simple, they simply find a place to hide and sut down all non-esential functions. I woudln't be surprised if certain species of chameleons do the same thing.

Of course, some of them will just die instead. so be freaking careful!

i was not aware that green anoles were found in north carolina does anyone know just how far north they can be found on the east coast? i didnt know they cold survive temps below freezing

 

[Sean1978]

i didnt know they cold survive temps below freezing

I was surprised when I first started seeing them here myself. I had seen only wild striped skinks when I first moved here in the late 90's

I was wondering if they were co-dependent on heated households to survive the winter months. I wonder if they can be found in rural areas or forests this far north.

 

[sruli]

from "All About Chameleons and Anoles" - by Mervin F. Roberts

[Take his chameleon data with the knowledge that this book was published in 1981, but for anoles, he should be accurate.]

[Anolis carolinensis] natural range is from southeastern Virginia to the Florida Keys and westward to eastern Texas. Other introduced species in the genus overlap this one in Florida and are distributed all over the Caribbean Islands and the adjacent mainland.
...

They are active when warm and torpid when cold. They do not burrow below the frost line and so are not established where they may be subjected to a long hard frost. Reports of wintering-over or established stable populations in New Jersey or Connecticut should be examined closely. There is the possibility that the wintering actually took place against a protected casement window facing on a basement which was radiating heat all winter. This would be something less than natural "wintering-over".

There are native populations of other species of lizards as far north as southern Canada, but these animals are more terrestrial than arboreal and can burrow deeply to avoid the hard frost. Also they are commonly larger than anoles and so can more efficiently store and expend their stored fats for energy during hibernation. In this manner they don't starve before springtime. The ideal temperature range for the common green anole is probably 75 to 95 F. The animal adjusts its body temperature by moving about within its territory to find the sun or shade it desires.