Saturday, January 16, 2010

Reptiles dropping from trees

I've been enchanted by the song 'It's raining Men', but according to reports its raining Iguanas in Florida, USA.

Iguanas in Florida are dropping from trees after becoming comatose due to the state's cold spell.

Temperatures have plummeted to around 0 degrees Celsius in the 'sunshine state', far below normal levels.

Cold-blooded iguanas like temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius, so in a climate of around 5 degrees C, they go into a deep sleep and become immobile.

As their bodies shut off, they lose their grip on the tree branches and fall to the ground.

Local wildlife expert Mark "Wildman" Burrow told the BBC's World Today programme what was behind the phenomenon: They are going into a tetonic freezing state, frozen but not dead - a sort of 'cold coma'

Notices are now being put out warning people to leave the animals where they find them or to call their local animal service instead.

In India, you will notice snakes, tortoises and other such animals having the same symptoms during cold spells... they are more vulnerable to extinction because of illiterate and superstitious villagers! I've seen several toads being dug upout of their winter sleep by stupid village louts in Gaya, who don't have an idea how useful toads are for the environment!

No comments: