Tegu << tay GOO >> also spelled teju, is the name of two species of ground-dwelling South American lizards. They weigh about 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) and are about 3 feet (91 centimeters) long. Tegus are strong, swift, and aggressive. Tegus burrow in sand or under rocks. They eat plants, snails, insects, and small vertebrates (animals with backbones). In farming areas, tegus are considered pests because they eat eggs and chicks. Female tegus often lay their eggs inside termite mounds to protect the eggs from attack by other animals.
