Tegus exhibit sexual dimorphism. Males display greatly expanded and prominent ‘jowls’ along the base of the lower jaw. These jowls are the result of extensive growth of the ventral pterygoideus muscles (a prominent jaw closing muscle in reptiles).[1]
Why Do Male Tegus Have Big Cheeks?
There’s an element of sexual selection- testosterone affects muscle development, and so in the wild, bigger jowls tend to mean a stronger male- but in captivity, bigger cheeks tend to mean overfeeding as the fat layer develops to greater extremes than the muscles naturally can.[2]
Do Male Tegus Get Bigger Than Females?
Size and Longevity
Tegus are fast growing lizards, often reaching sexual maturity in 3 years or less. Males grow larger, sometimes exceeding 4 feet in total length with a thick, muscular build. Females are slightly smaller, usually in the 3 foot range, and are more slightly built than their male counterparts.[3]
Do Tegus Recognize Their Owners?
Tegus are known as very intelligent animals. When kept in captivity, they are able to recognize their owners and form a close bond with them.[4]
Why Is Citrus Bad For Tegus
Tegu Food Options | ReptiFiles’ Tegu Care Guidereptifiles.com › Colombian/Argentine Tegu Care[5]
Can Tegus Have Citrus?
Do not feed: Citrus, rhubarb, seeds, or pits. These can make your tegu sick or even die![6]
Can Tegu Eat Oranges?
Fruit fed to tegus should be kept to a limited amount of only highly nutritious varieties. Some healthier fruits include berries, cantelope, dates, figs, guava, kiwi, mango, oranges, papaya and pineapple.[7]
What Fruits Can Tegus Eat?
Red tegu feeding
However, red tegus are known to be more interested in fruits (unlike blue tegus) so you’ll want to ensure they have a fresh supply. You may want to consider our Guinea Fowl + Fruits & Veggies links due to their high concentration of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.[8]
Are Grapes Good For Tegus?
Sweet fruits, such as grapes, bananas and cantaloupe, are another staple food. Occasionally my tegus even eat bread. Baby tegus eat insects, pinky rodents and ground meat (but be sure to add calcium). Occasionally I give them a boiled egg or canned cat food.[9]
When Are Tegus Available
Argentine Black and White Tegu – FWCmyfwc.com › wildlifehabitats › profiles › reptiles › argentine-black-and-w…[10]
What Time Of Year Do Tegus Hatch?
Females reach reproductive age at about 12 inches long or after their second season of brumation. They can lay about 35 eggs a year. Hatching in Georgia would be expected in June/July. Tegus are legal as pets in Georgia but it is illegal to release non-native animals into the wild.[11]
Where Are Tegus Now?
According to the Smithsonian, these are the states where the tegu lizards have been spotted: Florida. Georgia. South Carolina.[12]
Where Can I Buy Tegus In Florida?
Local populations of breeding tegus are now known to exist in three Florida counties: Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Polk. Monitoring these populations and stopping the spread of this species is vital to maintaining Florida’s native wildlife.[13]
How Much Does A Tegu Cost?
Argentine Tegus retail for about $200 USD.
They can be found through many breeders, so it is important that you find a reputable breeder for a healthy lizard.[14]
Why Tegus Are Bad For Florida
Potential impacts of tegus include competition with and preying upon Florida’s native wildlife, including some imperiled and protected species. Tegus prey upon the nests of other animals, and researchers have documented tegus eating American alligator eggs and disturbing American crocodile nests in Florida.[15]
What Problems Are Tegus Causing?
Tegus may be more cold tolerant than other reptile species and more likely to spread throughout the state. There are concerns, as well, that tegus could spread exotic parasites to native wildlife and cause bacterial contamination of crops. Research shows that these reptiles, like most, carry salmonella.[16]
Why Are Tegu Lizards Bad?
Wildlife managers have seen Tegu Lizards destroying alligator and American Crocodile nests by eating their eggs and young. They also prey on the endangered Key Largo Wood Rat, Cotton Mouse, and a wide variety of native birds, mammals, and reptiles.[17]
What Eats Tegus In Florida?
In Florida, tegus have dug into alligator and turtle nests and eaten the eggs. A growing and spreading tegu population is a threat to native wildlife such as crocodiles, sea turtles, ground-nesting birds, and small mammals.[18]
What Lizard Is A Problem In Florida?
A new paper co-authored by the University of Florida and partner agencies details the invasion of Argentine black and white tegu lizards in the state of Florida over the past decade. It looks at signs of the population’s increase, wildlife impacts, and efforts to reduce the threat.Dec 8, 2021[19]
Where Do You Buy Tegus
Captive Bred Tegus For Sale – Underground Reptilesundergroundreptiles.com › Animals[20]
How Much Does A Tegus Cost?
Tegus pricing
Tegus prices subscriptions based on fund AuM, starting at $20-25,000 per user and year. If both the client and the expert agree to have your calls published to all Tegus customers, you can pay on average $375/call (on top of the $25,000 ‘starter fee’).[21]
Where Can You Find Tegu Lizards?
In both its native and introduced range, the Argentine black and white tegu is found in savannas and disturbed habitats such as forest clearings, roadsides and fence rows. They are terrestrial lizards that rarely climb more than a few feet off the ground, but they are strong swimmers.[22]
Are Tegus Good For Beginners?
Answer: Even if you do not have experience taking care of a lizard, a Tegu is still a good animal to start out wtih. You do need to make sure you have adequate room for a cage, so some beginners will prefer a Leopard Gecko or Bearded Dragon since they are relatively small.[23]
Can You Keep Tegus As Pets?
Tegu lizards can be good pets, but they aren’t recommended for first-time or novice reptile owners. Due to their large size and high intelligence, they require a lot of space and enrichment to thrive in captivity.[24]
How Long To Tegus Live
About the Tegu
Tegus may resemble some monitor species but are only distantly related. Male tegus can be easily identified by the large jowls the develop as adults (with the exception of the gold tegu). On average, tegus will live up to 12 years and grow an astounding 3-5 feet in length!Nov 22, 2018[25]
How Long Do Tegu Lizards Live In Captivity?
Their life span in captivity seems to be 15 to 20 years They grow up to about 5 feet in total length and can weigh as much as 35 pounds. They often become very docile when kept in a stable setting and with the attention needed.[26]
How Long Do Black And White Tegus Live In Captivity?
In captivity, Argentine Black and White Tegus can live from 15 to 20 years. The most common health concerns for this species is metabolic bone disease, calcium or phosphorous deficiency, salmonella and internal parasites.[27]
Do Tegus Like To Be Held?
Argentine tegu care
Handle them often: Argentine tegus will get more docile as they get older, which means that they can get along really well with humans. However, you need to make sure your pet is accustomed to being handled; otherwise, they can become anxious and might lash out.[28]
Are Tegus Good Pets For Beginners?
Answer: Even if you do not have experience taking care of a lizard, a Tegu is still a good animal to start out wtih. You do need to make sure you have adequate room for a cage, so some beginners will prefer a Leopard Gecko or Bearded Dragon since they are relatively small.[29]
What Is A Tegus Habitat
Tegus occur in a wide variety of habitats, including the Amazon Rainforest, savannas, and deciduous semiarid thorn forests. Even though these are large, conspicuous lizards, two new species, T.[30]
Resources
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvator_(lizard)
[2]https://kaijutegu.tumblr.com/post/161378944503/why-do-male-tegus-have-such-big-cheeks
[3]https://www.lllreptile.com/articles/119-argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[4]https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/tegu_facts/281/
[5]https://reptifiles.com/colombian-argentine-tegu-care/tegu-food/
[6]https://reptifiles.com/colombian-argentine-tegu-care/tegu-food/
[7]https://www.completecritter.com/tegu.html
[8]https://reptilinks.com/blogs/news/beginners-guide-to-tegu-feeding-and-care
[9]https://reptilesmagazine.com/housing-and-feeding-tegus/
[10]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[11]https://georgiawildlife.com/tegus
[12]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/04/21/florida-traps-over-100-invasive-tegu-lizards/7393744001/
[13]https://bugwoodcloud.org/mura/ECISMA/assets/File/Tegu_trifold6G.pdf
[14]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/argentine-tegu/
[15]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[16]https://georgiawildlife.com/tegus
[17]https://www.rrisc.org/reptiles/tegu-lizard/
[18]https://www.evergladescisma.org/the-dirty-dozen/tegu-lizards/
[19]https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/environment/2021-12-08/florida-tegu-lizards-migrating-north-what-invasion-means-for-state-wildlife
[20]https://undergroundreptiles.com/product-category/animals/tegus/
[21]https://inex.one/expert-network-directory/tegus-expert-network
[22]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[23]https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/why-tegus-are-the-best-pet-lizards
[24]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/do-tegu-lizards-make-good-pets/
[25]https://piscespets.com/blogs/news/gentle-giants-basic-tegu-care
[26]https://reptilesmagazine.com/tegu-lizard-housing-and-care-information/
[27]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/argentine-tegu/
[28]https://reptilinks.com/blogs/news/beginners-guide-to-tegu-feeding-and-care
[29]https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/why-tegus-are-the-best-pet-lizards
[30]https://www.britannica.com/animal/tegu