Tegu lizards. Say what?
Argentine black and white tegus aren’t the most recent invasive species in Florida, and so they will not be the final, sadly.
What they’re doing are making themselves at residence in Florida. And never simply in South Florida. Greater than 1,500 have been captured or seen in St. Lucie County and even states past Florida’s border are seeing them.
What’s a tegu lizard and what can or must you do when you spot one?
What’s a tegu lizard?
The Argentine black and white tegu is large lizard that may develop to just about 5 feet long and weigh 10 pounds, based on College of Florida’s Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences.
Not like inexperienced iguanas, one other Florida invasive species, tegus not often climb various ft off the bottom, however are sturdy swimmers.
“In west-central Florida they inhabit dry uplands with sandy soils, together with pure, urbanized, and agricultural areas. In southern Florida, they happen in densely vegetated areas alongside canals and roadsides.”
There are a number of varieties of tegus, though the Argentine black and white is the most popular as pets, based on PangoVet.
What does a Argentine tegu appear to be?
The Argentine tegu lizard has established populations in a number of Florida counties and is taken into account an invasive species.
The Argentine black and white tegu has mottled black and white pores and skin. The colours are sometimes organized right into a banding sample throughout the again and tail.
Hatchlings show related markings, however usually have vivid inexperienced heads. The inexperienced fades after they attain about one month of age.
The place have tegus been reported in Florida?
See the place tegu lizards have been noticed in Florida.
There are “reproducing populations” of Argentine black and white tegus established in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Charlotte counties, based on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service.
The latest established inhabitants was lately discovered in St. Lucie County after a number of confirmed stories have been acquired by means of the FWC’s Unique Species Hotline.
Argentine black and white tegus have additionally been reported in different Florida counties, though these are probably remoted events of escaped or launched pets, the company stated.
➤ Map: Reports of tegus in Florida
Tegus pose a menace not solely to Florida, however different states within the Southeast, together with Georgia and South Carolina, based on the USFWS Southeast Region.
Is a tegu thought-about harmful to folks? Are tegu lizards pleasant?
“Though not thought-about aggressive towards folks, tegus will defend themselves if threatened,” based on the Georgia Fish and Wildlife Service.
“They will react quick and lash with their tails. They’ve sharp teeth and claws and powerful jaws.”
Bites can cause serious injuries when you don’t take correct precautions, based on WebMD.
Tegus spend winter in burrows, rising in February
The Argentine tegu lizard has established populations in a number of Florida counties and is taken into account an invasive species.
From late fall and thru the winter months, tegus head into burrows for a hibernation-type interval generally known as brumation to keep away from freezing temperatures.
“In consequence, they’ve the potential to increase their vary throughout a lot of the Southeast. A longtime population already exists in southeast Georgia,” based on the College of Florida.
In South Florida, they usually start to emerge from their burrows in February, based on the Fish and Wildlife Service.
What number of eggs does a tegu lay and the way lengthy do the lizards reside?
“Tegu breeding in Florida begins in early spring. Feminine tegus attain reproductive maturity after their second yr of brumation or when they’re about 12 inches lengthy from the tip of the nostril to the bottom of the tail,” the Fish and Wildlife Service stated.
Nests of dried vegetation are sometimes discovered on the base of timber, in clumps of tall grass or in burrows.
“They lay a mean of 35 eggs per yr. Eggs incubate for about 60 days.”
Tegus could reside as much as 20 years, and adults have few predators.
How does a tegu lizard influence different Florida wildlife?
Pictured, an Argentine black and white tegu, which may develop practically 5 ft lengthy and is an invasive, non-native species that’s prohibited in Florida.
Tegus are omnivorous, consuming fruits, eggs, bugs and small animals together with reptiles and rodents.
The Fish and Wildlife Service stated tegus not solely eat alligator eggs, but in addition disturb the nests of American crocodiles in Florida.
In addition they devour the threatened gopher tortoise, eating eggs and hatchlings.
Are you able to personal a tegu in Florida? What in case you have one and wish to do away with it?
Tegus are listed as a prohibited species in Florida and is probably not possessed and not using a allow from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee.
“Via the FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, pet homeowners who’re both unable to care for his or her unique pets, comparable to tegus, or who not want to hold them can give up them with no questions requested and with out penalties no matter whether or not these pets are stored legally or illegally.”
Are you able to kill a tegu when you see it?
Tegus will not be protected in Florida besides by anti-cruelty regulation and may be humanely killed on non-public property so long as you may have the landowner’s permission.
In addition they may be captured and humanely killed all yr, and not using a allow or looking license, on 32 commission-managed lands in South Florida, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated.
The company stated it’s “prioritizing management and removal of emerging tegu populations in new areas, together with the Charlotte County and St. Lucie County populations.”
How do you report a attainable tegu?
Take an image, pay attention to the situation, and report the data to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Unique Species Hotline, 888-483-4681 or 1-888-Ive-Got1.
You may also report on-line at IveGo1.org or utilizing the IveGot1 cell app, accessible on the AppStore and Google Play.
This text initially appeared on Palm Seaside Submit: Tegu is not a Florida iguana: Facts on invasive Argentine lizard
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