By Fall 2024 Storytelling Intern Aaron Chimelis

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Argentine Black and White Tegu Courtesy of University of Florida’s Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Florida is no stranger to invasive species. The Sunshine State unfortunately holds the title for the highest density of invasive species within the United States. From the tangled masses of Brazilian Pepper plant branches to the well known Burmese Python slithering through marshlands – Florida’s wildlife has conflict from every side. Yet a lesser known invasive species has established itself as a formidable threat to some of Florida’s most humble and iconic wildlife: the Argentine Black and White Tegu.

Like many invasive species, Argentine Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) found their way to the sunshine state through the pet trade.

Collectors and hobbyists became attracted to the beaded black and white coloration, large size, and often docile nature (when handled regularly). Tegus are also known as one of the most intelligent lizard species – solving complex problems to obtain food that would perplex some mammal species. This created a large demand for young tegus in the United States.

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Argentine Black and White Tegu Courtesy of University of Florida’s Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center

However, the ease of caring for a young tegu would be short lived. Tegus can grow up to 4 feet long and produce a powerful bite that can reach upwards of 200 pounds per square inch of pressure. Coupled with sharp teeth and claws, these animals hold a formidable presence in any ecosystem and can quickly become too much to handle for less experienced animal keepers. Along with this, many reptile keepers opt for outdoor enclosures for these large animals, which can often become damaged in storms and may contribute to escaped pets. The result: numerous tegus being released into the Florida wilderness. 

These adaptable creatures have not found it difficult to survive in the subtropical climate of Florida, quickly finding prey in the form of small mammals, reptiles, birds, and eggs. Tegus have even found ways to survive in the midst of humanity – finding shelter amongst anthropogenic structures within farms and ranches and feeding off local wildlife and plants

“Tegus are known to impact Florida’s native ecosystems through predation and also through spread of parasites and pathogens,” said Dr. Melissa Miller – an invasion ecologist at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center’s Croc Docs Lab currently researching Florida’s invasive Tegus. “Tegus can be found in disturbed habitats and undisturbed habitats alike and compete with our native species for resources.”

These lizards pose a grave threat to large amounts of biodiversity within the sunshine state, however the threat towards egg laying wildlife specifically may be much larger compared to other species.

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Argentine Black and White Tegu Courtesy of University of Florida’s Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center

“As known nest raiders, the eggs of ground nesting reptiles, such as American alligators and gopher tortoises, may be at increased risk from tegu predation,” said Miller.

With an impressive ability to dig, overlapping habitat preferences, and a taste for eggs, Tegus have been found to eat hatchling gopher tortoises – threatening tortoise populations throughout areas within the invasion front. 

Gopher tortoises serve as a vital keystone species within upland ecosystems throughout the Florida Wildlife Corridor. With over 300 species of animals reliant on their burrows for protection from the harsh conditions and wildfires that are often present within these areas. Without healthy populations of gopher tortoises, Florida wildlife could be at an even greater risk.

The solution to this problem: study and removal. By removing individuals from local areas and studying digested gut content, parasites, spatial ecology and other factors of captured specimens, scientists at the University of Florida Croc Docs lab in partnership with several other organizations across the state have dedicated funds and thousands of work hours to understanding the extent of how tegus are moving through the Florida ecosystem to ultimately understand their impact on local wildlife.

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Argentine Black and White Tegu Courtesy of University of Florida’s Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center

One such method that has shown preliminary success in Miller’s research is the use of AI in trapping elusive tegus. By collaborating with Wild Visions Systems, who were able to train AI to identify the image of tegus as they enter a baited trap, they conducted the first field deployment of this technology during 2023. The AI would recognize the animal and then trigger the door, thus closing the trap, after which the user would receive a message notifying that a tegu was captured. 

found smart traps were able to capture more tegus while requiring far less resources compared to traditional traps.” said Miller.  “This is great news for natural resources managers as effective control methods for invasive species such as tegus are often hampered by limited resources.”

This process greatly reduced bycatch of native animals such as raccoons and opossums within the traps – freeing up resources and creating a more efficient way to capture invasive Tegus. 

As of right now scientists are still scratching the surface of how invasive species impact wildlife within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Yet one thing is for certain: if we are to continue to pursue the conservation of wild lands and wildlife within the Sunshine state, we must seek to understand all of the threats that they are facing – human and animal alike. 

And as for Florida’s invasive species, Miller encourages anyone with information or sightings to use the 1-888-Ive_Got1 hotline, an FWC run hotline for reporting sightings of nonnative and invasive wildlife. By doing so, researchers and management professionals can get ahead of invasions before they pose a greater threat to Florida’s flora and fauna. 

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Aaron Chimelis | Storytelling Intern

After earning a degree in Environmental Studies and Communications from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, Aaron seeks to combine his knowledge of Florida landscapes and history to conservation efforts through written and visual storytelling. Through this, he hopes to inspire a newfound appreciation for the Sunshine State and the many characters that call it home.