While young most Tegu's are black and bright green. As time goes by and the tegu sheds the color will become closer to its adult coloration. There are obvious differences between the Black & White, Blue, Red & Gold, but it's a bit more closer between the Argentine Black & White and the Colombian Black Tegu. With a little info it's still pretty easy to tell them apart.

There is a definite biological difference between the Argentine Black & White Tegu and the Colombian Black Tegu. One difference, among many, is that the Argentine Black & White Tegu, (T. merianae) has two loreal scales while the Colombian Black Tegu, (T. teguixin) has only one. The loreal scales are directly between the nostril and the eye.

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The Argentine Black & White tegu is also called the giant tegu, as it is the largest tegu in the world.

Also easily observed is the difference in skin types. The Argentine Black & White Tegu has a beaded skin, like that of a gila monster or an anolis. The Colombian Black Tegu has very smooth scales that completely cover the animal. The Colombian Black Tegu is smooth.

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The Argentine Black & White Tegus also have two linear arrays of dots, one on each side of its back, running from the neck to the beginning of the tail. Those dots form two clearly visible lines on the Argentine Black & White Tegu's back. The Colombian Black Tegus lack such lines.

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Published on: 2004-11-20 (4054 reads)