Reptile found in Ocala forest concerns experts

The Ocala Star Banner ^ | May 16, 2010 | Martin E. Comas

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

The tegu is 4 feet long with an appetite that could possibly tip the ecological applecart.

OCALA NATIONAL FOREST - As if the latest reports of Burmese pythons, monitor lizards and Cuban tree frogs crawling around Florida are not enough to creep you out, there's a scary new invader in town.

It's an exotic lizard called a tegu, a 4-foot-long reptile from Argentina with sharp claws and a voracious appetite for meat that could possibly tip the ecological applecart.

One was spotted last week in Ocala National Forest, a place teeming with campers, swimmers and hikers.

Forest officials said the black-and-white critter was likely dropped off in the forest by an overwhelmed pet owner.

"We're taking this very seriously," said Carrie Sekerak, a forest-wildlife biologist. "A tegu is known to go inside gopher-(tortoise burrows) and dig out mice and tortoise eggs. ... It can tip the balance suddenly."

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Unlike the pythons and iguanas, this critter does not need to live in a tropical climate. Georgia, here they come. From the article: About the tegu Size: Can grow longer than 4 feet and weigh nearly 20 pounds. Adults are mostly black with white-spotted bands. Hatchlings have a green coloration that later fades. Food: Primarily carnivorous and eat insects, mice, fish and eggs. The lizards also have a taste for fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, bananas and mangoes. Habitat: Among the most common lizards in South America. They are typically seen in forests and near streams and lakes. The docile animals prefer open, grassy areas.

[Howie66]

When properly dressed and cooked, do they taste just like chicken?

[null and void]

How are they with a side of hushpuppies?

[brooklyn dave]

Speaking of reptiles-—don’t we have a lot of them in Congress? What kind is Nancy Pelosi?

[FreedomPoster]

I wonder if coyotes find them tasty. That would limit their spread pretty effectively, if so.

[cripplecreek]

Don’t worry. The global warmists tell us that lizards are going to die out because of global warming.

[brytlea]

It’s seriously time that exotics sold as pets are microchipped and if your exotic pet is found loose you pay a substantial fine. Period, end of story. I don’t have a problem with people keeping exotic reptiles as pets, but dumping them when you can’t keep them any longer is just plain stupid. And we all know that lots of people are just plain stupid.

[mnehring]

Just point some Cajuns that way and all will be taken care of.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

democrat voter:


unintended consequences:

[eddie willers]

LOL!

[AmishDude]

I thought it was describing a Crist campaign stop.

[Dallas59]

People keep them as pets...then let them go...

[Lurking in Kansas]

[cripplecreek]

Apparently they aren’t real aggresive.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Can some of you folks update me on the python hunts?

I never heard anymore about anything as it got started.

Thank you.

[FourPeas]

In recent years, tegus have become popular with exotic-pet aficionados in the United States because of their docile nature.

It's not unusual for tegu owners to let their pets run free inside their homes, said Kevin Enge, a herpetologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"A lot of people watch television with them sitting on their laps," Enge said.

Tastes like chicken? Probably makes a nicer belt/purse/boot, though.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Like they took care of the Nutria!

[Hot Tabasco]

a voracious appetite for meat that could possibly tip the ecological applecart.

I always thought there had to be two to reproduce........

[Zionist Conspirator]

So do these docile lizards eat fire ants?

(Why is it no one ever dumps off a tuatara???)