Tegu Lizard Invasion

In the past few months, the lizard species Tupinambis merianae--also known as the Argentine Tegu lizard--has invaded parts of southern Florida. The Tegu lizard, a member of Family Teiidae, originated in parts of South America and has since been brought to the United States as part of the pet trade. Argentine Tegus are very popular pets because of their unique look and their docile and friendly nature; however, some pet owners release their Tegus into the wild when they get too big to take care of. This has led to an increase in the Tegu population in south Florida, and it is beginning to take a toll on the ecosystem.

Currently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation has said there could be hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Tegu lizards in Florida by the end of this year. Tegus can lay between 25 and 50 eggs at a time, and March is the height of their breeding season. With the increasing number of Tegus in Florida, there has been a decrease in the number of certain animals, especially gopher tortoises, and researchers are worried about how this could affect other populations as well. 

There is a major concern about what will happen to Florida's ecosystem if this invasive species cannot be controlled. One researcher attempted to control the Tegu population by capturing the Tegus, skinning them, and selling their skins for money in order to fund more bait and traps for other Tegus; however, this proved to be economically unsuccessful. Currently, researchers are still trying to figure out what to do with this exploding population of lizards.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2014/03/16/tegu-tampa-lizard-invasion/6497853/

- Ashley Brooks