Tegu
Tegu is a common name of a number of species of lizards that belong to the families Teiidae and Gymnophthalmidae. Tegus are native to Central and South America. They occupy a variety of habitats and are known for their large size and predatory habits.[1]
An Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae).
Although they resemble monitor lizards, they are only distantly related to them; the similarities are a result of convergent evolution.
Some species are of economic importance as food and pets.
Some species have become invasive species in regions of South Florida[2] and southern Georgia.[3]
Not all lizards known as tegus belong to the same genus. The word "tegu" may refer to any of the following genera:
- Callopistes "dwarf tegus" (2 species)
- Crocodilurus "crocodile tegus" (1 species)
- Dicrodon "desert tegus" (3 species)
- Dracaena "caiman lizards" also known as "caiman tegus" (2 species)
- Euspondylus "sun tegus" (11 species)
- Proctoporus "sun tegus" (17 species)
- Salvator (3 species)
- Teius (3 species) including the "four-toed tegu"
- Tupinambis (5 species)
References
- "How huge pet South American tegu lizards are invading the US". The Telegraph. 2018-08-03. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- Nuwer, Rachel (2014-08-04). "A Lizard Interloper Presents Challenge in Florida". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- Maxouris, Christina. "Georgia officials are asking the public to help them track 4-foot long, invasive lizards". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
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