Cryptic Golden Tegu Tupinambis cryptus

The Cryptic Golden Tegu is a large lizard native to tropical northeastern South America and the adjacent Caribbean (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guiana Shield, northeastern Brazil and Trinidad/Tobago).

The large, intelligent tegus are somewhat like monitor lizards in size and habits. Like other Golden Tegus, they can grow to over a metre long (typically 60-90cm). Unlike several other tegu species, they maintain their bold, cryptic patterns into adulthood. (The one above has a regrown tail.)