Georgia has more than alligators, turtles, and snakes.
While they are the opposite of a welcome guest , multiple Argentine tegu have decided to call this home. What are they and what dangers (if any) do they pose? Here’s what we know:
What is a tegu?
The tegu is a large, invasive, commonly black and white lizard from Argentina. They can grow up to 4 feet long and weighing 10 pounds or more, according to Georgia Wildlife . Unlike some other lizards, the tegu rarely climbs more than a few feet off the ground, but they are strong swimmers.
From late fall and through the winter months, tegus head into burrows for a hibernation-type period known as brumation to avoid freezing temperatures. They usually breed in the spring and typically lay 35 eggs per year which have a 60-day incubation. They may live up to 20 years.
How many tegus are in Georgia?
The University of Georgia runs an interactive map with detailed info about tegus in Georgia. Over the last few years, there have been 43 reports spread out across counties across the state. Clarke County has one reported sighting, while Franklin County, Hall County and even as far north as Union County have reported a sighting…