| Gold tegu | |
|---|---|
_(Tupinambis_teguixin).JPG)
| |
| on Trinidad | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Teiidae |
| Genus: | Tupinambis |
| Species: | T. teguixin
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tupinambis teguixin | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Teius teguexim (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
The gold tegu, also known as the golden tegu, common tegu, black tegu, Colombian black and white tegu and tiger lizard (in Trinidad),[3] is a species of tegu.
Its old scientific name (synonym) was Tupinambis nigropunctatus, but it has since renamed to Tupinambis teguixin.[2]
Gold tegus grow to be about 2 to 3 ft (60 to 100 cm) long on average, and up to 3.5 to 4.0 kg in weight, with a glossy body, powerful limbs and a thick tail.[4] They have many black and gold stripes down their bodies.
Gold tegus live in the tropical forests of northern and central South America, as well as in Panama.[4] Its South American range extends to the island of Trinidad.[5]
They feed on insects, other invertebrates (such as snails), small mammals, other reptiles (such as smaller lizards and small snakes), birds, and fish; it takes nest eggs of birds, turtles, and caimans. It sometimes eats fruit and honey.[5]
They typically do not make as good a pet as their larger southern relatives, the Argentine black and white tegu and the red tegu; however, if handled frequently, they can make a good pet.[6]
