Tegu
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An Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae).
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]
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 the US states of 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 - the "crocodile tegu" (1 species)
- Dicrodon - "desert tegus" (3 species)
- Dracaena - "caiman tegus", also known as "caiman lizards" (2 species)
- Euspondylus - "sun tegus" (11 species)
- Proctoporus - "sun tegus" (17 species)
- Salvator - (3 species)
- Teius - (3 species, including the "four-toed tegu")
- Tupinambis - (8 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.
This page is an index of articles on animal species (or higher taxonomic groups) with the same common name (vernacular name). If an internal link led you here, you may wish to edit the linking article so that it links directly to the intended article.
Categories:
- Set indices on animal common names
- Teiidae