Argentine tegu lifespan

Tegus are intelligent and curious lizards that can be tamed and trained with regular handling and interaction. The Salvator species are the most commonly kept Tegus in captivity and include the Argentine black and white tegu Salvator merianae and the Red tegu Salvator refescens. Both these species are larger then the Colombian or Tupinambis tegus of which the most common Tupinambis species is the Colombian black and white tegu Tupinambis teguixin. These lizards argentine tegu lifespan characterized by their large size, muscular limbs, and spotted pattern and most are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals, argentine tegu lifespan.

Salvator merianae. Origin: Argentina and parts of Paraguay, South America. Basking Temperature: degrees F. Cool End Temperature: degrees F. Substrate: Coco fiber-peat-soil mix appropriate for burrowing.

Argentine tegu lifespan

Friendly and intelligent, the Argentine tegu is one of the more unique of lizard species. They have become more popular as a pet because of their docile nature and intelligence. They have a black or dark brown coloration, with small white spots on their belly. In the wild, the Argentine tegu is an important predator of small mammals and reptiles. Argentine tegus can grow grow up to four feet in length. While it is not the largest lizard in the world, it is still quite impressive in size. Fully grown adults weigh up to 15 pounds. Select breeds grow even larger, with some individuals reaching six feet or more. Argentine Tegus are opportunistic feeders and prefer a diet of snakes, rodents, and birds. Sometimes they are known to eat turtles and small alligators in the wild. Argentine Tegus need access to water at all times.

Predators of tegus include cougarsjaguarsotterssnakescaimansand birds of prey, argentine tegu lifespan. Large-scale taxon sampling of the teiids has not led to any strong resolutions based on morphological and genetic data; [37] the majority of data about the blue tegu comes from hobbyists.

Jillian Dara is a fact checker for The Spruce Pets, reviewing articles about pet care and pet products for factual accuracy and consistency. She has more than five years of experience in lifestyle editing and media and has been published in a variety of prestigious outlets. Argentine black and white tegus are sometimes simply called black and white tegus, although this can lead to confusion as there is also a Colombian tegu that looks similar, but is smaller and less docile. Sometimes Argentine tegus are also called giant tegus or big-headed tegus. As its common name implies, these lizards hail from Argentina and other parts of South America.

Salvator merianae. Origin: Argentina and parts of Paraguay, South America. Basking Temperature: degrees F. Cool End Temperature: degrees F. Substrate: Coco fiber-peat-soil mix appropriate for burrowing. These reptiles are not without their challenges though as they do require a large enclosure as adults and have a month brumation cycle that can be challenging. If not socialized well and handled properly, adult tegus can cause serious injury to a keeper.

Argentine tegu lifespan

The Argentine Tegu is a large 4 feet lizard. As such, most people find them intimidating when they meet one for the first time. Although they may be large and menacing, these gentle giants are amenable pets that are easy to tame. They have unusually high intelligence for reptiles, and may even respond to a given name. As large reptiles, they require large enclosures, preferably outdoors. These lizards are endemic to Argentina as apparent by their common name , Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. They have also been introduced to Miami where they have thrived as the climate is similar to that of their native location. The binomial name of the species is Salvator merianae or Tupinambis merianae.

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Blue tegus, like other tegus, may breed up to twice a year. It could be an economically and dietarily beneficial meat source if used more widely. Argentine Tegu Diet Omnivores, tegus eat basically everything in the wild. The tail is also used as a weapon to swipe at an aggressor; even a half-hearted swipe can leave a bruise. Monitoring and managing the harvest of tegu lizards in Paraguay Thesis. City water will need to either be treated with a chlorine removing liquid, OR. They begin life with a mainly carnivorous diet of insects such as dubia roaches, crickets, and various worms. December Jr Enclosure size alone can be prohibitive for many keepers that do not have ample room to house them. This alludes to the hindlimbs having greater functionality in tegu adults. Baby Argentine Black and White Tegus are tiny at first, however they grow quite rapidly grow big and fast. Misting the enclosure with water will also aid in keeping the environment the way your tegu likes it. Care information courtesy of ReptiFiles.

Image Source. One of the best monitor lizards found predominantly in South America, the Black and White Tegu is a warm-blooded reptile which is popularly chosen as a domesticated pet due to their high intelligence and an excellent adaptation.

Argentine Tegu care sheet and bioactive maintenance RSS. Tegus are a burrowing species in both their native and invasive habitats, especially during the winter. By providing something too small or cramped it makes for a cramped, dirty enclosure. A known predator of the Argentine black and white tegu is the lesser grison Galictis cuja , a mustelid related to weasels. The key to success with tegus and most reptiles, for that matter is to feed them as large a variety of foods as possible. Contents move to sidebar hide. BMC Evolutionary Biology. Breeders generally inform the buyer on the sex of the animal before the purchase. Argentine tegus like to burrow, so they need a substrate that is not only absorbent and easy to clean but also allows their natural digging behavior. For a more comprehensive list of feeding options, and which foods to avoid, visit ReptiFiles. No subspecies of the red tegu has been described by the biologists currently. We recommend cypress mulch as our favorite tegu susbtrate to use as it holds humidity and is clean and hides odor.