Monday, February 24, 2014

WAKING UP FROM HIBERNATION: (A SLEEPY SPRING DAY FOR ANOLE PHOTO BLOG)

Hi Everybody!!
Look who I found hanging out on the fence in the sun: A Green Anole. He has been tucked away underground hibernating for most of the winter. As Spring comes in, a sunny day is just too tempting for the reptiles to resist. He will go back to his hole as the temps drop again tomorrow. Humans do not hibernate. (Although some people would say Humanity is in a constant state of hibernation, refusing to wake up to the world around them). Anyway, the anoles come out to get warm in the sun and begin the wake up process. I have shared below info excerpts from Wikipedia on hibernation and green anoles. Enjoy!

A still-sleepy green anole on fence board of courtyard

Yes, he is snoozing in the sun!

Uh-Oh, He heard the camera and woke up

He is telling me this is his fence board

Very Regal looking in Spring Green

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation

Hibernation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms. Hibernation refers to a season of heterothermy that is characterized by low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate. Although traditionally reserved for "deep" hibernators such as rodents, the term has been redefined to include animals such as bears and is now applied based on active metabolic suppression ^[1] rather than based on absolute body temperature decline. Many experts believe that the processes of dailytorpor and hibernation form a continuum and utilize similar mechanisms.^[2] Hibernation during the summer months is known as aestivation. Some reptile species (ectotherms) are said to brumate, or undergo brumation, but any possible similarities between brumation and hibernation are not firmly established.

Often associated with low temperatures, the function of hibernation is to conserve energy during a period when sufficient food is unavailable. To achieve this energy saving, an endotherm will first decrease its metabolic rate, which then results in a decreased body temperature.^[2] Hibernation may last several days, weeks, or months depending on the species, ambient temperature, time of year, and individual's body condition.

Before entering hibernation, animals need to store enough energy to last the entire winter. Larger species become hyperphagic and eat a large amount of food and store the energy in fat deposits. In many small species, food caching replaces eating and becoming fat.^[3] Some species of mammals hibernate while gestating young, which are either born while the mother hibernates or shortly afterwards.^[4]

A big stretch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole

Carolina anole

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carolina anole

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Polychrotidae
Genus:	Anolis
Species:	A. carolinensis
Binomial name
*Anolis carolinensis* Voigt, 1832

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is an arboreal lizard found primarily in thesoutheastern United States and some Caribbean islands. Other common names include the green anole, American anole and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green. While many kinds of lizards are capable of changing color, anoles are closely related to iguanas^[2] and are not true chameleons. The Carolina is a small lizard; male adults are usually 15 cm (5.9 in) long, about half of which is its tail, and it can weigh from 3–7 g (0.11–0.25 oz). Exceptionally, these anoles will grow to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length.^[3]^[4]^[5] A. carolinensis is part of the A. carolinensis series of anoles.