Black and White Tegus
Black and White Tegus
There are at least three established populations of tegus in southern Florida and one in Georgia, all likely resulting from escaped or released pets.
There are at least three established populations of tegus in southern Florida and one in Georgia, all likely resulting from escaped or released pets.
The Argentine black and white tegu is a large omnivorous lizard native to South America and is common in the international pet trade. Tegus eat a variety of plants and animals but specialize in consuming eggs from bird and reptile nests. The USGS is developing and testing methods for detection and control of tegus and assessing risks to the greater Everglades ecosystem and beyond.