The teiú, the popular name for the species Salvator merianae, is considered the largest lizard in the country, with its body measuring over 50 cm, and if you add the tail it can reach up to 2 meters in length. Its coloring is mixed with black, white and yellow.
Found from the south of the Amazon to the north of Argentine Patagonia, it inhabits savannahs, fields, forests and urbanized environments. Although it is terrestrial, it scales rock formations and small trees, and is also an excellent swimmer with ample diving ability.
It has an aggressive behavior when attacked, and if prevented from fleeing it will use its tail for defense, or even its jaw, which holds a powerful bite.
Its feeding habit is omnivorous, wiynth a well diversified diet composed of vegetables, insects, arachnids, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and eggs of various species.
It usually hibernates from April to July. Reproduction occurs mainly from August to December, when the female builds a burrow and lays 12 to 35 eggs, which are incubated for up to 90 days.
The main threats to the species are road kill and hunting. Hunting is carried out to obtain its skins for human consumption or because of the damage caused by the animal to the bird farms in the interior.
In the Seta areas we often see this species when it is at its most active period. We understand its ecological importance and we try our best to respect its space, preserving the natural environments in our regions of operation.
