Gold tegu

Species of lizard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The gold tegu (Tupinambis teguixin), also known as the golden tegu, common tegu, black tegu, Colombian black and white tegu and tiger lizard (in Trinidad),[3] is a species of tegu.

Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Teiidae
Quick facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Gold tegu
CITES Appendix II [1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Tupinambis
Species:
T. teguixin
Binomial name
Tupinambis teguixin
Synonyms[2]

Teius teguexim (Linnaeus, 1758)
Tupinambis nigropunctatus (Spix, 1825) Lacerta teguexim (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Taxonomy

Its old scientific name (synonym) was Tupinambis nigropunctatus, but it has since renamed to Tupinambis teguixin.[2]

Description

Gold tegus grow to be about 2 to 3 ft (60 to 100 cm) long on average, and up to 3.5 to 4.0 kg in weight, with a glossy body, powerful limbs and a thick tail.[4] They have many black and gold stripes down their bodies.

Distribution

Gold tegus live in the tropical forests of northern and central South America, as well as in Panama.[4] Its South American range extends to the island of Trinidad.[5]

Showing teeth

Diet

They feed on insects, other invertebrates (such as snails), small mammals, other reptiles (such as smaller lizards and small snakes), birds, and fish; it takes nest eggs of birds, turtles, and caimans. It sometimes eats fruit and honey.[5]

As pets

They typically do not make as good a pet as their larger southern relatives, the Argentine black and white tegu and the red tegu; however, if handled frequently, they can make a good pet.[6]

References

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External links

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