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.
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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 - (FPREP132PH) Lateral view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 5 - (FPREP133PH) Rear view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 6 - (FPREP134PH) Lateral view of adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 7 - (FPREP135PH) Juvenile, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 8 - (FPREP136PH) Adult, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 9 - (FPREP137PH) Adult found recently dead dorsal, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 10 - (FPREP138PH) Same individual lateral view (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 11 - (FPREP139PH) Same individual ventral view (Paul Smith October 2007).
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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.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith and Marcelo Bombaci and are used with their permission.