Argentine Black and White Tegu
The Argentine Black & White Tegu (Salvator merianae) is sometimes called the Argentine Giant Tegu and the black & white tegu. They are a large species of lizard from the Teiidae Family. These are also the largest of the tegu lizards.
Origin: -Eastern and Central South America
-tropical rainforests, savannas, and semi-deserts in this region
Size: -Tegus typically can grow up to 91.5 cm (3 ft.) in length, nose to tail. Males
have been known to reach 120 to 140 cm (4 to 4.5 ft.). Males are larger than
females.
-Weight ranges from 2.5 to 7 kg (5.5 to 15.4 lbs.)
Diet: -Omnivorous
-Young tegus will feast on insects, annelids, spiders, snails, crustaceans, and
some fruits & seeds. As they grow, they predate on larger prey.
They will seek out nests of other reptiles and birds to eat their eggs.
Tegus also feed on small birds and other small vertebrates (such as lizards,
snakes, and small mammals).
Behavior: -Diurnal
-Capable of seasonal reproductive endothermy
Reproduction: -Main breeding season is in the spring, but will breed twice a year.
-They typically lay between 18 and 25 eggs in a clutch. Tegus can
lay up to 30 eggs at one time. Clutch size is dependent on the size and
health of the animal.
-The incubation period is usually 40 to 60 days.
Lifespan: -On average, they live 15 to 20 years.