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Sarasota News Leader March 8, 2013 Brumation also prepares Tegus for the mating season. Cooler temperatures allow males to produce sperm and females to increase their ovulation cycles. So, when Tegus emerge from their burrows in spring, they will be hungry and randy. I can hardly wait. Page 80 The Argentine Black and White Tegu is not the only Tegu species that has been sighted on Siesta Key. Its ill-tempered Venezuelan cousin, the Golden Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin), has also taken up residence. This adult Tegu, which measures about 4 feet in length, is also Unless caught, Tegus will wreak havoc on our likely a former pet that its owner released key. They are voracious omnivores with a par- when it became too large or expensive to care ticular fondness for eggs — especially those for. of our native sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles Tegus are an "exotic" (invasive) species in and snakes. What is even scarier is that Tegus Florida and are of "least concern." This means will go after bird eggs! You see, there are not that they accorded no legal protection. Tegu too many of my Eastern Screech Owl family sightings are recorded by the Florida Musemembers left on our key, so I am very conum of Natural History of Florida University cerned by this new threat to avian survival. in Gainesville. A fascinating element of a Tegu's haecceity is that it can run on its hind legs! Check out this These sightings used to be inventoried by the super cool video by wildlife cinematographer U.S. Geological Service's Non-native Aquatic Ojatro (Heiko Kiera). You will be amazed. Species program, but they have since been Ojatro has filmed some of the most astonish- dropped from the database after Tegus were ing footage ever taken of invasive species in declared "insufficiently aquatic." The redesigthe Florida Everglades and their interaction nation is troubling because Tegus are champion swimmers, agile tree climbers and nimble with our native ones. A Golden Tegu also has been spotted on Siesta Key. File photo