Subject: Golden Tegu Lizard, Tupinambis teguixin

Location: Arima Valley, Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago

Stock Number: G-0737

Comment: The Golden Tegu is a large ground-dwelling lizard that Trinidadians call by the common name Matte. This Tegu Lizard was basking beneath a Poui tree amid the tree's fallen yellow blossoms.

Tegu Lizards comprise a genus in the Whiptail family (Teiidae). This particular genus is found in South America, including both Trinidad and Tobago.

The lizard fauna of Trinidad & Tobago includes five anoles, eight geckos, one skink, the Green Iguana, and about ten other species.

Related image: Anole image from Tobago.