Teju

Teju — Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family of Teiidae. These large, South American lizards are commonly referred to as tegus; Tupinambis merianae (Argentine Black and White Tegu), Tupinambis rufescens (Red Tegu), and Tupinambis teguixin (Colombian Black and White Tegu, Gold Tegu, or Common Tegu) are all common in the pet trade. Tegus are an escaped or illegally released species that has adapted to living in some of the more remote areas of South Florida.

Tegus are usually primarily carnivorous, except for T. rufescens (which is primarily herbivorous) and T. merianae (which is debatable 50/50). Tegus fill the same ecological niche as monitor lizards and are an example of convergent evolution.