guspav said:
it's a b/w columbian tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) at least I think that's the species for this one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegu
Close, but not quite it. Shes an Argentine Black & White, which grow to be the largest of the Tegus. Theres also the Argentine Red Tegus, which are a bright brick red color, the same patterns as the Argentine Black & Whites, just more yellow/red, their also a little bulkier and prefer a little higher temperatures.
Columbian Tegus have alot more black, a more skittish disposition and only grow to 3 feet, while Argentine B & Ws grow to be up to 5 feet. If you get close enough to see, the loreal scales on the side of a Columbian Tegu's snout are joined into 1 pair, Argentines have 2 pairs, thats one way to tell, but there are distinct differences just by looking at the measure of black.
Gold Tegus are pretty much the same as the Columbians, just all the white is replaced by a bright golden color.
Argentines generally have a very laid back disposition, and are more easily tamed. Nienna was just... hungry...
Theres also the Blue Tegu, which is only 3 feet, but similar to the Argentines, just has a faint blue hue. Some people have managed to breed Reds and Blues together, so there are a few hybrid Red/Blues out there, quite a sight.
When young, Argentine B & Ws (Dunno about the rest really) have a stripe of green the covers their head, and half-way down their back, they lose this as they grow older, Nienna still had hers when I got her, so she was atleast a week old (I think, 11 inches too, shes 36 inches now). Tegus eat mostly Fruit, (About 60-70%), Insects and Rodents, plus whatever carrion they can find. They hibernate for the winter, before hand they stop eating for about 2 weeks and then find a place to sleep. Interestingly, they can lose and regrow their tails. Another thing, Tegus need space, or they WILL escape.
) anyway that has nothing to do with reptiles, sorry
