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Loving lizards

Lizards are not known for being caring parents but there are some exceptions. On the floor of a North American forest, early in the spring, a female five-lined skink basks in the sun to warm her cold-blooded body. Once warm she goes to her underground nest where she warms the eggs with her own body heat. In fact, she takes just as much care of her eggs as a robin might, transferring the heat of her body to them. A month later the lizard's eggs hatch. But while a robin's young need feeding, the baby lizards are already able to find food for themselves. Within a day they have left their mother and are independently exploring the woodland floor for themselves.

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2 minutes

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