More info on tegus.

[VARNYARD]

There are some animals that are seen in the wild that do not look like the animals available in the pet trade. Some of these animals have very different colors and patterns; there are also some that even have red eyes. I would think there might be many more species yet to be discovered or classified by science. Some of the habitat and ranges of these animals is very difficult to penetrate, insects, thorns, mountains as well as very thick jungles are just part of the things that would needed to over come before it can be explored. I have heard many people that have been to these thick jungles, they say they can hear larger animals and reptiles in them but never get a glimpse of them.

It would also seem that tegus found in the southern part of their range tend to be darker than tegus found farther north. This is not always the rule, but it is found to be more the case. Remember, in South America the equator is in the northern part of the region. The farther south you go the cooler the temperatures at night and in winter months. This might be the case as to why these animals are found to be darker in color. This would allow them to absorb more sunlight, than lighter the colored animals. The lighter colored animals that are often times found in the more northern region, would be able to reflect the heat from the sun, more so than if they were darker.