Burmese pythons.
Lionfish.
Iguanas.
Tegu lizards. Say what?
Argentine black and white tegus aren’t the most recent invasive species in Florida, and they won’t be the last, unfortunately.
What they are doing are making themselves at home in Florida. And not just in South Florida. More than 1,500 have been captured or seen in St. Lucie County and even states beyond Florida’s border are seeing them.
What is a tegu lizard and what can or should you do if you spot one?
What is a tegu lizard?
The Argentine black and white tegu is large lizard that can grow to nearly 5 feet long and weigh 10 pounds, according to University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Unlike green iguanas, another Florida invasive species, tegus rarely climb more than a few feet off the ground, but are strong swimmers.
“In west-central Florida they inhabit dry uplands with sandy soils, including natural, urbanized, and agricultural areas. In southern Florida, they occur in densely vegetated areas along canals and roadsides.”
There are several types of tegus, although the Argentine black and white is the most popular as pets, according to PangoVet.
What does a Argentine tegu look like?
The Argentine tegu lizard has established populations in a few Florida counties and is considered an invasive species.
The Argentine black and white tegu has mottled black and white skin. The colors are often arranged into a banding pattern across the back and tail.
Hatchlings display similar markings, but typically have bright green heads. The green fades after they reach about one month of age.
Where have tegus been reported in Florida?
See where tegu lizards have been observed in Florida.
There are “reproducing populations” of Argentine black and white tegus established in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Charlotte counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service.
The newest established population was recently discovered in St. Lucie County after several confirmed reports were received through the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline.
Argentine black and white tegus have also been reported in other Florida counties, although these are most likely isolated occasions of escaped or released pets, the agency said.
➤ Map: Reports of tegus in Florida
Tegus pose a threat not only to Florida, but other states in the Southeast, including Georgia and South Carolina, according to the USFWS Southeast Region.
Is a tegu considered dangerous to people? Are tegu lizards friendly?
“Although not considered aggressive toward people, tegus will defend themselves if threatened,” according to the Georgia Fish and Wildlife Service.
“They can react fast and lash with their tails. They have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws.”
Bites can cause serious injuries if you don’t take proper precautions, according to WebMD.
Tegus spend winter in burrows, emerging in February
The Argentine tegu lizard has established populations in a few Florida counties and is considered an invasive species.
From late fall and through the winter months, tegus head into burrows for a hibernation-type period known as brumation to avoid freezing temperatures.
“As a result, they have the potential to expand their range across much of the Southeast. An established population already exists in southeast Georgia,” according to the University of Florida.
In South Florida, they typically begin to emerge from their burrows in February, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
How many eggs does a tegu lay and how long do the lizards live?
“Tegu breeding in Florida begins in early spring. Female tegus reach reproductive maturity after their second year of brumation or when they are about 12 inches long from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail,” the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Nests of dried vegetation are often found at the base of trees, in clumps of tall grass or in burrows.
“They lay an average of 35 eggs per year. Eggs incubate for approximately 60 days.”
Tegus may live up to 20 years, and adults have few predators.
How does a tegu lizard impact other Florida wildlife?
Pictured, an Argentine black and white tegu, which can grow nearly 5 feet long and is an invasive, non-native species that is prohibited in Florida.
Tegus are omnivorous, eating fruits, eggs, insects and small animals including reptiles and rodents.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said tegus not only eat alligator eggs, but also disturb the nests of American crocodiles in Florida.
They also consume the threatened gopher tortoise, eating eggs and hatchlings.
Can you own a tegu in Florida? What if you have one and want to get rid of it?
Tegus are listed as a prohibited species in Florida and may not be possessed without a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“Through the FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, pet owners who are either unable to care for their exotic pets, such as tegus, or who no longer wish to keep them can surrender them with no questions asked and without penalties regardless of whether those pets are kept legally or illegally.”
Can you kill a tegu if you see it?
Tegus are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law and can be humanely killed on private property as long as you have the landowner’s permission.
They also can be captured and humanely killed all year, without a permit or hunting license, on 32 commission-managed lands in South Florida, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
The agency said it is “prioritizing control and removal of emerging tegu populations in new areas, including the Charlotte County and St. Lucie County populations.”
How do you report a possible tegu?
Take a picture, take note of the location, and report the information to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Exotic Species Hotline, 888-483-4681 or 1-888-Ive-Got1.
You can also report online at IveGo1.org or using the IveGot1 mobile app, available on the AppStore and Google Play.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tegu is not a Florida iguana: Facts on invasive Argentine lizard