The females are much smaller reaching up to 3 feet in total length, from nose to tail. They have beaded skin and linear stripes running down their bodies. Despite its large size, the Argentinian black and white tegu enjoys a reputation as being quite docile and tame. The black and white tegus of South America are among the most intelligent and highly adapted of all living lizards.
But they are strong swimmers and can stay submerged for extended periods. They winter in burrows or under cover in a hibernation-like state called brumation. In Argentina, tegus are found from sea level up to altitudes of 4, feet. Adult tegus have few predators and can multiply quickly. Females reach reproductive age at about 12 inches long or after their second season of brumation. They can lay about 35 eggs a year. Tegus are legal as pets in Georgia but it is illegal to release non-native animals into the wild.
Although not considered aggressive toward people, tegus will defend themselves if threatened. They can react fast and lash with their tails. They have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws.
In Georgia, tegus might be confused with native reptiles such as juvenile alligators which are protected , broadhead skinks and eastern fence lizards although even as adults, all native lizards would be no larger than a hatchling tegu.
Young Argentine black and white tegu. Tegus are about inches long when recently hatched and grow to 12 or more inches the first year. American alligator juvenile. About inches as hatchlings, growing to 12 or more inches in a year. Adult broadhead skink. About inches long as hatchlings and grow to 12 inches or so as adults. Eastern fence lizard. About inches long as hatchlings and grow to a maximum of inches as adults. Invasive Species. They also make a blend for hatchlings. Thanks for sharing the information!
I have own store for reptile supplies in Dubai, I have found helpful information for my customers to share. Keep posting such great information.
Well Kaz, you will for sure end up killing your monitor if you keep feeding canned at food. The gravy is far too fatty for them. I had a Savannah monitor that was fed canned cat food before I managed to get a hold of him, only to have him for less than a year before he passed.
Very painfully I may add. Save yourself a huge vet bill and heartache of you killing your animal slowly and just do some research on proper diets. In the wild, tegu lizards live in a variety of different habitats, including tropical rainforests, woodlands, savannas, and semi-desert habitats.
Unlike some other lizard species, they are not arboreal as adults, but prefer living on the ground. Like most arboreal reptiles, younger, lighter individuals spend more time in trees where they are safer from predators.
These reptiles reside in South America, throughout the habitats described above. In their natural range, they are abundant and successful. They have also been accidentally or purposefully introduced as an invasive species in parts of Florida. These likely escaped, or were human-released pets that people could not properly care for. The primary danger of tegus as an invasive species is their habit of digging up and eating alligator and turtle eggs. Tegus are omnivores, which means that they will eat both plants and animals.
This is generalist feeding behavior. Younger animals eat mostly spiders , snails, insects, fruits, berries, and seeds. As they get bigger, they will eat more eggs, small birds, and even small mammals.
0コメント