"Argentine tegus are breeding in multiple states after escape or release from captivity; biologists are concerned since they're voracious omnivores."
"Deep in the Everglades, a voracious invader with attractive spotted scales is taking over. The Argentine black-and-white tegu, a large lizard that can grow up to four feet in length, has already proliferated widely throughout South Florida. But it’s not stopping there. These invaders have started popping up throughout the southeastern United States, posing a potential threat to native species and farmers.
The creatures, native to South America, are omnivorous, eating just about anything with nutritional value they can fit in their mouth. They’ll chomp on the eggs of ground-nesting animals such as birds and reptiles, including endangered sea turtles. They’ll snack on doves and other small animals. They’ll snag strawberries and other fruits and vegetables that grow low to the ground.
And they’re extremely hardy, making their spread difficult to control or reduce once the species becomes established."
Rebecca Renner reports for National Geographic November 18, 2020.
Advertisement 
