Concerns Rise Over Invasive Smart Dog-Sized Lizards

The Argentine black and white tegu, a dog-sized lizard with a voracious appetite, is causing ecological concerns in the southern U.S. by consuming a wide range of native wildlife and plants. These intelligent lizards, which can regulate their body temperature, have spread to several states, including Florida and Texas. Efforts to control their population include bans on keeping them as pets and the use of environmental DNA technology to track and manage their presence. This issue coincides with the threat posed by another invasive species, the Burmese python.