Summary
The gold tegu, 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.
| Gold tegu | |
|---|---|
| |
| on Trinidad | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| 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) | |
Taxonomy edit
Its old scientific name (synonym) was Tupinambis nigropunctatus, but it has since renamed to Tupinambis teguixin.[2]
Description edit
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 edit
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]
Diet edit
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 edit
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 edit
- ^ "Appendices". CITES (cites.org). Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ a b Tupinambis teguixin at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 May 2014.
- ^ "Wild herps - common tegu (Tupinambis teguixin)". Wildherps.com.
- ^ a b "Lagarto overo o lagarto común Tupinambis teguixin". Olimpiadas Nacionales de Contenidos Educativos en Internet (oni.escuelas.edu.ar). 2001. Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
- ^ a b "Tupinambis teguixin (golden tegu or matte)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Life Sciences. St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago: University of the West Indies. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "Colombian Tegu Care, Information, Requirements". Pets with Scales. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
Bibliography edit
- Bartlett, R.D.; Bartlett, P. (2003). Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An ecotourist's guide. University Press of Florida. ISBN 9780813026237.
- Curwen, A.O. (April 1937). "The telencephalon of tupinambis nigropunctatus". Journal of Comparative Neurology. 66 (2): 375–404. doi:10.1002/cne.900660208.
External links edit
- "Gold tegu" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- Photos (of gold tegus). Animal Diversity (images). U. Michigan.
- "Gold tegus". Central Pets. Archived from the original on 2007-05-20 – via archive.org.
- "Colombian tegu: Gold tegu care". Pets with Scales. 16 July 2022.