FOUR-TOED WHIPTAIL LIZARD Teius teyou
A medium-sized lizard, with an exceptionally long tail, this Teiid is a sprinter. Running fast is both his main weapon against his prey and his best defence against his enemies. In the blink of an eye he is gone, taking refuge under a nearby log or rock where he remains until the danger has passed. Just in case anybody is lucky enough to get close to him he has developed a further defence, losing his tail, which then wriggles as though it is alive whilst the animal escapes to fight another day. The tail will eventually grow back.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPREP129PH) Adult in nuptial colours, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Marcelo Bombaci October 2007).
FIGURE 2 - (FPREP130PH) Lateral view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 3 - (FPREP131PH) Rear view of same individual (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 4 - (FPREP486PH) Rear view of adult male, Filadelfia, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith November 2010).
FIGURE 5 - (FPREP132PH) Lateral view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 6 - (FPREP133PH) Rear view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 7 - (FPREP134PH) Lateral view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 8 - (FPREP135PH) Juvenile, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 9 - (FPREP136PH) Adult, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 10 - (FPREP137PH) Adult found recently dead dorsal, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 11 - (FPREP138PH) Same individual lateral view (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 12 - (FPREP139PH) Same individual ventral view (Paul Smith October 2007).
VIDEO - (FPREP487VI) Same individual as (FPREP486PH) (Paul Smith November 2010).
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith and Marcelo Bombaci and is used with their permission.