Gold tegu
| Gold tegu | |
|---|---|
_(Tupinambis_teguixin).JPG)
| |
| 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[1] | |
|
Teius teguexim (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
The gold tegu, also known as golden tegu, common tegu, black tegu, Colombian tegu, and tiger lizard (on Trinidad),[2] is a species of tegu. Its old scientific name (synonym) was Tupinambis nigropunctatus, but it has since renamed to Tupinambis teguixin.[1]
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.[3] They have many black and gold stripes down their bodies. Gold tegus live in the tropical forests of northern and central South America, as well as Panama. They feed on insects, invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles, and birds, as well as fish and sometimes fruit. They typically do not make as good a pet as their larger southern relatives, the Argentine black and white tegu or the Argentine red tegu, but if handled frequently, they can make a good pet.
References
- ^ a b Tupinambis teguixin at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 May 2014.
- ^ "Wild Herps - Common Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin)". www.wildherps.com.
- ^ http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/2001/corrientes/conocer-para-conservar/lagarto.htm
- Gold tegus
- Bartlett, R.D., and Bartlett, P. (2003). Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An Ecotourist's Guide.
External links
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