Tupinambis
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Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family of Teiidae. These large, South American lizards are commonly referred to as tegus; Tupinambis merianae (Argentine Black and White Tegu), Tupinambis rufescens (Red Tegu), and Tupinambis teguixin (Colombian Black and White Tegu) are all common in the pet trade.
They are primarily or entirely carnivorous, except for T. rufescens (which is primarily herbivorous / vegetarian) and T. merianae (which is debatably 50/50). Most species are large, ranging in adult size from just over 3 feet long to over 4 and a half feet long, and, with the exception of T. teguixin, make wonderful pets for anyone who can house such a large lizard. These lizards can be aggressive and should be handled with care. If you are aggressive with them, they will bite and draw blood. Additionally, a new variety has been recently introduced, called the Blue Tegu due to the tendency of males to become bright powder blue upon maturity. Whether these represent an undescribed species, subspecies, or are merely a regional variation is currently unknown.
External links
- [Ron Saint Pierre's site; Breeder of 3 species of tegu]
- [Agama International; owned by Bert Langerwerf, renowned tegu expert]
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