Salvator merianae

Argentine Black-and-white Tegu

A forked tongue samples the world ahead.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Plan for adult size

Habitat Ground & cover

Visiting Watch quietly

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Forked-tongue Explorer

Diurnal; terrestrial and a strong digger

Species highlights

A seasonal ability to make heat

Scientists asked what a tegu’s temperature reveals before dawn, before basking can dominate the reading.

Measurements across seasons and controlled conditions documented extra internal heat production during reproduction. That distinguishes active thermogenesis from merely retaining yesterday’s solar warmth; it does not imply year-round mammal-like temperature control.

The result unpacks “cold-blooded” into environmental heat, internal production, heat retention and behaviour. A familiar ground lizard helped reopen a larger physiological question.

Feature sources:

Tattersall et al. 2016 · Science Advances

At a glance

The Argentine black-and-white tegu is a large South American ground-dwelling lizard. It explores and forages by day, digs and uses burrows. Repeated tongue-flicking gathers chemical information; this sense is not unique to snakes, and an approach should not automatically be read as a request for handling.

Tongue-flicking gathers chemical information while movement and digging connect the surface with hidden spaces below. Exploration is richer than whether an animal accepts handling.

These egg-laying omnivores change food use with age and season. Research on reproductive-season heat production also reveals physiological variation hidden by a simple “cold-blooded” label.

Common names Argentine Black-and-white Tegu; Salvator merianae

Scientific name Salvator merianae

Native rangeEast-central South America, including Argentina and Brazil

Adult sizeOften about 1.0–1.4 m total length

ActivityDiurnal; terrestrial and a strong digger

Diet Provide a varied omnivorous diet adjusted to age and body condition. Balance suitable animal and plant foods with calcium and micronutrients; chicken muscle, eggs or fatty foods alone are inadequate staples.

Habitat & care

Provide large adult ground space, deep substrate, UVB, local basking and reliable locks. Plan enrichment and weight management.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureBasking surface 52–57°C Cool-end air 24–29°C. The high value applies only to a broad basking surface, never the enclosure air; guard heaters.

Humidity70–80% Measure in the cool zone; offer deep substrate and a humid retreat, with no standing water.

LightingUVB UVI 3–4 Measure UVI at the animal’s back height and provide full shade; lamp, distance and mesh all affect the reading.

Space250×125×125 cm Approx. 8×4×4 ft starting size for one adult; provide deep digging substrate and strong boundaries.

Look a little closer

Trace black-and-white markings from back to flank, then watch several forked tongue-flicks. During exploration or digging, compare forelimb substrate movement, the following trunk and the turning tail, linking sensing and locomotion into one sequence.

Care note: Plan lifelong space and enrichment, rather than judging only a calm juvenile.

About this profile

Size ranges are reference values; sex, origin and age affect appearance.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (5)

Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons，resized for display · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.