Life History and Ecology of the Five-Lined Skink, Eumeces fasciatusFitch, Henry S. (Henry Sheldon)
Science
Life History and Ecology of the Five-Lined Skink, Eumeces fasciatus
Fitch, Henry S. (Henry Sheldon)
Eumeces fasciatus
In the course of the present study, no five-lined skinks were found
hibernating under natural conditions, but on numerous occasions in early
spring, two or three or four skinks were found together under massive
flat rocks in semi-torpid condition, beside deep holes or crevices which
presumably led to their hibernation sites in better insulated cavities.
In the winter none could be found in such situations under large rocks,
nor in the superficial types of hibernation sites described by Neill and
Hamilton in the southern states. In the more severe winter climate of
Kansas better protected hibernation sites are required. In the rock
ledge situations where skinks were studied, excavation for the purpose
of finding hibernating individuals was not practical.
On several occasions when skinks were put in the freezing compartment of
a refrigerator and frozen solid, at temperatures several degrees below
freezing, they failed to revive when warmed. However, they can survive
temperatures a little below freezing. On April 1, 1953, one was placed
in the freezing compartment with a thermometer inserted rectally. After
2-1/2 hours when the compartment was opened, this thermometer showed a
temperature of -2.5°C, after a delay of several seconds in obtaining a
reading because of condensed moisture on the thermometer obscuring the
mercury column. Another thermometer that rested beside the skink in the
compartment showed 27°F. The skink was limp and immobile. It was placed
on a table top at normal room temperature, and it warmed rapidly. When
it had reached 1.5°C, it contracted its muscles in response to a light
pinch. At 9.5°C it raised its head and had its eyes partly open. Twenty
minutes after its removal from the freezing compartment, it was still
lying in the same position, its temperature having reached 13.5°C. When
handled it seemed dazed for several seconds as if just awaking. Then it
crawled away briskly.
On March 28, 1953, a skink was placed in the freezing compartment for
about 10 minutes, and upon removal its temperature was recorded as
-0.5°C. It was not frozen, but was limp and unresponsive to such stimuli
as pinching or pricking. At 1.5°C feeble movements of the legs were
noticed. The eyes were still closed. At 3.4°C the legs moved as if in
walking. At 6.0°C the skink raised its head and took several steps
forward. At 7.5°C it protruded its tongue and dragged itself about for
several steps. At 9.0°C movements of the sides indicated an inspiration
approximately every three seconds. At 12.2°C it opened its eyes.
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