The Teiidae

Tupinambus

Tegus

The genus Tupinambus is a mainland South American genus, representatives being found from Panama as far south as Argentina, although most are distributed in the region of Brazil. These species are better known by their collective name of tegus, with a charismatic reputation similar to that of the monitor lizards of the Old World, including feisty behaviour and fairly stringent demands in terms of captive requirements.

Tegus are regularly imported, but unfortunately mostly in the form of leather goods. They are however also seen in the pet trade, probably more often in North America than in Europe, although I have seen black and white tegus for sale in the UK in the 1990s. They are intelligent lizards but unfortunately their combination of size (up to 4') and often poor temperament makes them challenging to keep, especially in a European environment where houses are often smaller and the weather (at least in Northern Europe) makes keeping them outside difficult. See Barron and Barron or Rogner for details of captive care: suffice it to say that despite their carnivorous reputation, a solid diet of vertebrates such as mice is a poor idea. As well as being insectivorous, tegus are also rather more omnivorous than the monitors with which they are often compared.

Breeding appears to be challenging but not insuperable, success having been achieved by commercial breeders who keep their tegus outside for some or all of the year. Needless to say this could be difficult for individual hobbyists, especially those in cool climates. Although Argentina, part of the range of both T. rufescens and T. teguixin, has a cooler climate in contrast with other parts such as Brazil, it is still markedly different from areas such as Britain, Germany, the Netherlands or Canada. See Barlett and Bartlett for details.

Presch lists the characteristics of the genus as follows:

• tongue long, sheathed at the base, not emarginate;
• rostral high, pointed and separating nasals anteriorly;
• nasals meet on midline;
• nostril pierced in suture between 2 nasals;
• 1 frontonasal;
• arched series of prefrontals posterior to nasals;
• 1 frontal;
• frontoparietals paired;
• parietals in a group of 3 scales surrounded by granules;
• 2-3 loreal scales;
• inter-tympanic throat sulci present;
• single, anterior, undivided chinshield, well developed edges;
• tympanum exposed;
• limbs well developed, with 5 digits;
• dorsal scales small, flat, oval, juxtaposed;
• ventral scales smooth, regular, in 19-38 longitudinal rows;
• tail cylindrical, not compressed;
• scale rows on tail alternating;
• single row ventrally corresponding to double row dorsally.

Of the species listed below, most are in fact not seen in herpetoculture, especially those found only in Brazil which does not currently allow the export of its wildlife. T. rufescens and T. teguixin are those most commonly seen.

Bibliography

"A Review of the Tegus, Lizard Genus Tupinambis (Sauria: Teiidae) from South America", William Presch, Copeia 1973, No. 4 December 31 pp. 740-746.

Monitors, Tegus and Related Lizards, R D and Patricia Bartlett, Barrons Pet Series 1996. Useful guide to the large lizards: the Teiidae section also includes notes on Callopistes and Dracaena.

Links

theTegu.com is an online message board and discussion forum for Tupinambis aficionados. 

Back to Teiidae | Lizards | Reptiles | Herpetology | Back to Home Page