Tegus Whiptail Lizards and Relatives: Teiidae
Crocodile Tegu (crocodilurus Lacertinus): Species Accounts
Physical characteristics: The tail of a crocodile tegu is very long and stretches twice as long as the rest of its body. It also has pointy scales that stand up in a row like those on a crocodile's tail. Adults are mostly greenish brown or brown with a whitish or yellow underside. Their legs have some orange spots. Adults grow to about 19.7 inches (50 centimeters) in length from head to tail.
Geographic range: They are found in South America in the area surrounding the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.
With its crocodilelike tail, the crocodile tegu is an excellent swimmer.
Habitat: Crocodile tegus wander in the woods and swim in streams.
Diet: They eat almost any insect or spider they can find on land or in the water.
Behavior and reproduction: With its crocodilelike tail, the crocodile tegu is an excellent swimmer. Females lay eggs. Scientists know little about its other behaviors or its reproduction.
Crocodile tegus and people: Humans and crocodile tegus rarely see or bother one another in the wild.
Conservation status: This species is not considered endangered or threatened. ∎
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books
Badger, D. Lizards: A Natural History of Some Uncommon Creatures— Extraordinary Chameleons, Iguanas, Geckos, and More. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2002.
Cogger, H. G., and R. G. Zweifel, eds. Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Smithmark, 1992.
Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1996.
Fitzgerald, L. A., J. M. Chani, and O. E. Donadio. "Tupinambis Lizards in Argentina: Implementing Management of a Traditionally Exploited Resource." In Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, edited by J. G. Robinson and K. H. Redford. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Harding, J., and J. Holman. Michigan Turtles and Lizards. Lansing: Michigan State University Museum, 1990.
Lamar, W. The World's Most Spectacular Reptiles and Amphibians. Tampa, FL: World Publications, 1997.
Mattison, Chris. Lizards of the World. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1989.
Palmer, W. M., and A. L. Braswell. Reptiles of North Carolina. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
Pianka, E. R., and L. J. Vitt. Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Pough, F. H., R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, and K. D. Wells. Herpetology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Wright, J. W., and L. J. Vitt. Biology of Whiptail Lizards, Genus Cnemidophorus. Norman: Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 1993.
Web sites
"Great Basin Whiptail." California Living Museum. http://www.calmzoo.org/stories/storyReader$81 (accessed on November 5, 2004).
"Lizards of Wisconsin: Special Tricks." Environmental Education for Kids, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/reptile/lizardsOfWisconsin5.htm (accessed on November 5, 2004).
McFarlane, B. "Cnemidophorus sexlineatus." Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cnemidophorus_sexlineatus.html (accessed on November 5, 2004).
"Prairie Racerunner." Environmental Education for Kids, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/reptile/prairieracerunner.htm (accessed on November 5, 2004).
"Six-Lined Racerunner." Davidson College Biology Department. http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Biology/herpcons/Herps_of_NC/lizards/Cne_sex.html (accessed on November 5, 2004).
"Unisexual Whiptail Lizards." American Museum of Natural History. http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/expeditions/treasure_fossil/Treasures/Unisexual_Whiptail_Lizards/lizards.html?50 (accessed on November 5, 2004).
Additional topics
- Tegus Whiptail Lizards and Relatives: Teiidae - Six-lined Racerunner (cnemidophorus Sexlineatus): Species Accounts
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceDinosaurs, Snakes, and Other ReptilesTegus Whiptail Lizards and Relatives: Teiidae - Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Status, Six-lined Racerunner (cnemidophorus Sexlineatus): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, TEGUS WHIPTAIL LIZARDS THEIR RE