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A large stocky lizard that has dark skin with pale cross-bands of small spots, native to the tropical forests of South America.
Genus Tupinambis, family Teiidae: several species, in particular the common tegu (T. teguixin)
‘Argentine Black and White tegus begin breeding here in Florida around mid March until mid April.’
‘Even though red tegus from Argentina and Paraguay are both the same species technically, I was told that those from Paraguay are smaller in size than their Argentinian counterparts.’
‘The common tegu has black and white stripes or spots with smooth scales and are similar in build to monitor species.’
‘Adult Argentinian black and white tegus can have a variety of fruits and vegetables added to their diet.’
‘Some nests had clearly been raided by tegus - large black-and-white lizards common in the reserve - and jaguar footprints and scratch marks on trees near nests implicated the big cats as well.’
Origin
1950s: abbreviation of teguexin, from Aztec tecoixin ‘lizard’.