Argentine Black-and-white Tegu

Known locally as iguana overa. Its massive body is covered with a beautiful scaly pattern of jet-black with white and yellowish transverse bands and spots. Adult males develop prominent muscular folds on the sides of the neck. The long, muscular tail accounts for more than 60% of the total length and is used as a defensive whip. Previously classified as Tupinambis merianae. Total length: 1.10 to 1.40 m. Weight: 3.5 to 6 kg.

Behaviour

An opportunistic omnivore and tireless walker, with an ultra-developed sense of smell that it deploys with its forked tongue. It eats fallen fruit, large insects, snails, small rodents, lizards and is a great scavenger of carrion. It raids nests with enthusiasm, devouring the eggs of birds and caimans. It hibernates in underground burrows from May to August, disappearing completely from the landscape.

How and when to see it

Exclusively from spring to summer (September to April). Extremely tame: it is seen roaming the campsites, the pedestrian walkways and the sunny edges of the internal roads in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Where to see it in the Iberá

The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where argentine black-and-white tegu has confirmed presence:

Tours to see it

Verified providers operating at the gateways where argentine black-and-white tegu lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.

• Esteros Ñe’é
  Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0
• Gaucho Argentino
  Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0
• Irupé Excursiones
  Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0
• Navegando Ituzaingó
  Paseos privados en velero por el Paraná con el capitán Mario: salidas al amanecer, a la…★ 5.0

Species profile

• Common nameArgentine Black-and-white Tegu
• Scientific nameSalvator merianae
• GroupReptile
• StatusNative

Other species of the Iberá

• 🐊 Caiman
• 🐍 Urutu Lancehead
• 🐍 Coral Snake
• 🐍 Yellow Anaconda