Argentine Black and White Tegu
Salvator merianae
Males: 10+ pounds
Females: 5 to 10 pounds
Males: Up to 4 feet long
Females: Up to 3 feet long
Human Care: 15-20 years
Wild: 10-12 years
South America (forest/shrubland)
Fun Facts
- Go into brumation in colder months (a type of hibernation for reptiles).
- Good swimmers using their tail as a rudder as well as in defense.
- One of the few partially warm-blooded lizards; it can reach a temperature up to 10 degrees higher than the ambient temperature at night time. However – unlike true endotherms – these lizards only display temperature control during their breeding season.