The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) is a large lizard that grows up to 4 feet long. It is black and white with banding along its tail. Hatchlings have green on their heads which fades after a few months.
In Florida, tegus, often seen on roadsides or other disturbed areas. They spend most of their time on land. Although, they can swim and may submerge themselves for long periods of time. Like many reptiles, they are primarily active during the day and will burrow or hide overnight.
Two other tegu species have been found in South Florida and have the potential to become invasive. The gold tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) grows to 2–3 feet long. Black and gold stripes run down its body. Red tegus (Salvator rufescens) can reach up to 4.5 feet, and the males have large jowls.
Tegus eat fruits, vegetables, eggs, insects, dog or cat food. They will also consume small animals like lizards and rodents. In Florida, tegus have dug into alligator and turtle nests and eaten the eggs. A growing and spreading tegu population is a threat to native wildlife. These native species include crocodiles, sea turtles, ground-nesting birds, and small mammals.
With their numbers climbing, they have expanded their range from the south end of Miami-Dade, west to Collier County and north to Hillsborough County. In 2009, when biologists first began trapping them in South Florida, they captured just 13 tegus. This year that number is fast approaching 500.
University of Florida biologist Frank Mazzotti, who is part of a team trapping and tracking tegus but worries the reptiles have slipped beyond “containment zones.”
“We have not been able to muster enough resources to deal with this problem,” he said.
A team of University of Florida wildlife biologists is tracking a sizeable invasive lizard in the Everglades that is threatening native birds, alligators, and crocodiles, raising fears that they could be as destructive as the Burmese python.
If you see a tegu, please take a picture and report it to an authority such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife and go to IveGot1.org to report it.