Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay I need some help understanding this one. I have a backyard pen in coastal los angeles. I had some of my texas horned lizards out there last week as they were starting to wake up from winter dormancy. I couldn't find one of them as the rains started several days ago.

This morning I went out there to find the water in the pen over an inch deep. The soil was loose and I finally dug up the small horned lizard sure he would have drowned.

I was wrong.

He seems fine today.

How is it possible that the lizard could have been submerged for hours without ill effects??????????

Matt

I could only speculate, but I would suggest since when they dig in the soil they can cut off the sand from coming in through the nostrils and with the soil maybe being a little clay like, it may not have let water go through too much, but it probably just closed off the nose--this is only speculation on my part.....
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www.phrynosoma.org

I have no idea Matt, but it would be cool to see some photos!
My CB female woke up about a week ago and I put her outside to soak up some rain, but my cage won't retain water so I've never seen that one.
I was out hiking today and collecting a few rugosus and actually saw my first solare of the season. Last year it was sometime in March before I spotted one. This is the earliest I've ever heard of solare being out, but this little guy was about 12 inches from an active rugosus nest entrance.

A little closer...

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Phrynosoma.Org
Phrynosoma.Com

So. Ca. here. I had a similar experience in my outside enclosure last year. Several Sand Lizards and Blue Bellies hibernate outside in the pit. All were in hibernation when we had a couple of significant down pours in one week. The pit filled up anywhere from 2 to 6" of water, depending on the location in the pit. It was like this for hours upto a day or so before I got the sump pump going. I assumed all were lost. But then when spring came around, all the animals were back and kicking, even that year's offspring. Even had the two zebra tails appear again. Can't explain it either....weird?!

Roger