Reptiles · Squamata · Teiidae

Black Tegu

Tupinambis teguixin

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The golden tegu is a large lizard of the family Teiidae. It reaches a total length of 1.5 m, though the commonest total length is around a metre. In Venezuela it is known as mato de agua and in Colombia as lobo pollero.

Weight

1.5 kg – 4 kg

Size

80 cm – 1.2 m

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaRainforestOmnivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Savanna Rainforest

10countries 9parks3same family

Fun facts

It is one of the main predators of turtle and caiman nests in Amazonia: it locates buried clutches by smell and digs up dozens of eggs in a single session.
Its forked tongue works as a directional chemical detector: it picks up particles from the air and carries them to the Jacobson's organ, comparing the signal from each tip to work out which side the trail is coming from.
It has established itself as an invasive species in Florida alongside the Argentine black and white tegu, and both are subject to active removal programmes.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Rainforest, gallery forest, savannah and crop margins of northern South America
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 60 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 20 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupinambis_teguixin