"Reptiles are cold blooded, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. When temperatures drop too low for too long, their metabolism slows, blood flow is compromised, and cells begin to fail. In this case, the cold likely led to tissue damage and a cold induced myopathy, essentially muscle injury caused by inadequate circulation and energy at low temperatures."
"Shoveling a New England driveway rarely yields more than a soggy newspaper or half-dead patch of grass, but a Rhode Island man made the find of a lifetime this week when he unearthed an exotic lizard. Veterinarians with New England Wildlife Center's exotic animal clinic found the tegu to be extremely weak, underweight, and showing signs of frostbite after prolonged exposure to the cold, according to the center."
A large South American tegu was found buried under nearly two feet of snow on a busy Providence street after a Rhode Island resident unearthed it while shoveling. The tegu was weak, underweight, and showed frostbite and cold-induced myopathy from prolonged cold exposure. A small portion of the tongue was amputated and steroids were administered for inflammation and weakness. The lizard was warmed and is now resting comfortably in veterinary care. Tegus are considered invasive in parts of the U.S., and zoological authorities warn against keeping them as pets because of ecological risks and potential aggression and cost.
Read at Boston.com
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