It's 4 degrees Celsius outside, iguanas in shock are clinging to trees and falling off like rain.

(Dan Tri) - The temperature in Florida (USA) is at about 4 degrees Celsius, causing many iguanas to go into cold shock. They were sleeping on trees, then became paralyzed and fell to the ground like rain.

Iguanas falling from trees during cold weather has become a common sight in Florida, USA. It is even regularly reported in weather forecasts. So why do these reptiles react to the cold like this?

In recent days, the temperature in Florida has been around 4 degrees Celsius. Scenes of iguanas falling to the ground like rain have appeared in many places. According to zoological experts, this phenomenon is completely normal.

It's 4 degrees Celsius outside, iguanas are falling off trees in shock ( Video source: Florida News)

Green iguanas are cold-blooded animals. They have trouble maintaining their body temperature in cold weather. The drop in temperature puts them into a temporary state of torpor, a kind of paralysis. This causes their joints to stiffen in the cold, making them lose their grip on branches and fall.

Cold shock, a condition that can lead to paralysis, typically strikes species at temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius or lower, said Joe Wasilewski, a conservation biologist at the University of Florida. The cold weather also affects reptiles that are not native to Florida, such as pythons and alligators.

A green iguana fell to the ground because of the cold (Photo cut from clip).

"The original habitat of green iguanas, which stretched from southern Mexico to central Brazil and Bolivia, is tropical. Their optimal body temperature is between 29 and 35 degrees Celsius.

When the outside temperature drops to 4 degrees Celsius or below, the iguanas' metabolism slows down and they start to fall out of the trees," biologist Joe analyzed.

Green iguanas are known to have been introduced to Florida since the 1960s. Their populations have increased since the 1990s, in part due to a lack of natural predators.

Iguanas falling from trees can be dangerous to people and damage vehicles. Local authorities have repeatedly warned people about this.

Iguanas fall like rain in cold weather (Photo: Key News).

The National Weather Service also encourages people to be aware of their surroundings. If you see an iguana lying on the ground due to cold shock, leave it alone. It will recover and become active again when the weather warms up.

The green iguana is a species of lizard in the iguana family. This animal is native to Central and South America and the Caribbean. With its unique appearance, in many places around the world , including Vietnam, people enjoy keeping them as exotic pets.

With a jade green color, this species is hunted by pet owners. In Vietnam, they are also known as South American dragons, priced from several million to several tens of millions of VND depending on color, size and rarity.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/doi-song/ngoai-troi-4-do-c-cu-da-soc-lanh-dang-bam-tren-cay-roi-rung-nhu-mua-20241224123019386.htm