Invasive Lizard Species Sighting in Brevard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Offers Information About the Argentine Black and White Tegu

invasive Argentine black and white tegu emerging for breeding season in Central Florida

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA—The University of Florida, in collaboration with IFAS, conducts research on invasive species in Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers information about handling the growing problem of the invasive Argentine black and white tegu, as they emerge for breeding season in Central Florida.

The accumulation of exotic reptiles and amphibians in Florida has been called a “runaway train” that has yet to be controlled. Based on twenty years of field work and an examination of museum records and literature, no other place in the world ranks as having more introduced reptile and amphibian species than Florida.

Of 63 established exotic reptilian and amphibian species, 48 are lizards. South Florida is especially at risk because of its subtropical climate, large areas of disturbed habitats, and thriving trade in exotic pets. Although pythons receive most public attention, large invasive lizards also threaten South Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems.

The Argentine black and white tegu was introduced to Florida through the pet trade and has established breeding populations in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been coordinating efforts to manage another breeding population in Charlotte County and an emerging population in St. Lucie County.

The Argentine black and white tegu is one of the largest lizard species in the Western Hemisphere, growing up to four feet in total length. Females lay an average of 35 eggs yearly, starting at age three or four. Tegus have survived below-freezing temperatures in Florida by burrowing during the winter months. The tegu’s broad habitat use and omnivorous diet create the potential for severe ecological impacts.

More Tegus in More Areas
Collaborative interagency efforts to assess the south Florida tegu population through surveys, trapping, radio-tracking, and removal began in 2009 within the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. Since then, Argentine black and white tegus have grown in number and expanded their range in south Florida. Tegus have now been reported in 35 Florida counties and 4 Georgia counties.

The number of tegus removed and the effort expended to catch them have increased. These totals do not include tegus removed by private trappers, some of whom reported removing more than 400 in one year.

The south Florida tegu population is centered in Florida City and the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, but tegus are dispersing from this core area.

To the east, several have been removed from the Turkey Point Power Plant site, a nesting area of federally threatened American crocodiles, and just outside the border of Biscayne National Park. To the west and south, they are advancing into Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys. Levees facilitate tegus’ spread into vulnerable habitats that would otherwise be isolated from terrestrial invaders (Klug et al. 2015).

With a newly emerging population of tegus in St. Lucie County and occasional sightings in Broward and Palm Beach counties, the potential for their spread is an ongoing threat on the east coast of Florida. On the west coast of Florida, an established population exists in Charlotte County and Hillsborough County.

Tegus are likely established in several counties in Georgia and have proven capable of surviving winter in semi-natural enclosures in Alabama. These observations support predicted suitable habitat modeling, which suggests the potential for tegus to expand their range north of Florida.

What’s at Stake
The Argentine black and white tegu is an omnivore that eats fruits, vegetables, eggs, insects, and small animals. As a predator, the tegu is likely to harm South Florida’s native wildlife.

In an analysis of 124 gut content samples from tegus captured along the urban fringe in Miami-Dade County, 39% contained vertebrate remains. These included frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, turtles, and small mammals. The discovery of gopher tortoise hatchlings in the gut content of five tegus from central Florida confirms their threat to imperiled and protected species in Florida.

Tegus are especially known for eating buried eggs of reptiles and have been documented eating eggs of American alligators and turtles in Florida. Camera traps have also captured photos of a tegu on an American crocodile nest. Hence, a growing and spreading tegu population may reduce populations of threatened and endangered native species such as crocodiles, sea turtles, ground-nesting birds, and the endemic Key Largo woodrat.

Interagency Efforts to Reduce the Threat
The University of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Geological Survey, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the South Florida Water Management District have developed a cooperative program to contain and reduce the tegu population in south Florida. Program tasks include the following:

Locate and remove tegus in the occupied area using driving and walking surveys, camera traps, and live traps.
Prevent expansion to new areas (including both public and private lands) via live traps, camera traps, and community outreach.
Develop and validate a new method of evaluating the impact of tegu removal on tegu populations.
Use radio telemetry to understand how tegus move through the landscape and apply results to enhance removal of tegus.

Implications of Expansion
There is an urgent need to prevent further expansion of tegus both within and beyond Florida. Without increased management effort, tegus are likely to move beyond the “containment” phase, becoming so widespread and abundant that costly long-term management may be needed. It is essential to act now to halt the spread and invasion of Argentine black and white tegus, thereby preventing irreversible damage to the biological diversity and ecological integrity of Greater Everglades natural areas. Preventing the spread of tegus will be less expensive and more effective than attempting to remove an established population later.

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