Destructive invasive lizard species spreading through Florida, Southeast
KEY LARGO, Fla. – The Florida Keys is the latest area to report a sighting of a giant invasive lizard species that experts warn could cause significant harm to the region's native ecosystem.
Recently, the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex said that North Key Largo was home to a sighting of an Argentine black and white tegu, a reptile native to South America.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission believes the species began colonizing in Florida through escapes or intentional releases from captivity.
In addition to the Sunshine State, reports of the tegu have now been confirmed in Texas, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Did The National Weather Service Capture A Photo Of Bigfoot During A Pennsylvania Storm Survey?
"Argentine black and white tegus are large lizards that can grow up to nearly five feet in length," biologists explained. "They have a distinctive mottled black-and-white pattern, often arranged into bands across their back and tail."
These reptiles are also skilled swimmers, making the coastal areas and swamps of the Southeast ideal nesting grounds.
Tegus are omnivores with a broad diet but have a particular fondness for the eggs of ground-nesting birds and other reptiles.
A map produced by the University of Georgia's Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health highlighted thousands of sightings, with most concentrated along Florida's Treasure Coast and down to southern Miami-Dade County.
Giant Bug Found At An Arkansas Walmart Identified As A Jurassic-era Insect
While the Argentine black and white tegu is generally not harmful to humans, the university notes that they are known to defend themselves using their tails and sharp teeth if they feel threatened or cornered.
Florida wildlife officials have expressed concern over the tegu's potential damage to the state's other animals, particularly sea turtles and gopher tortoises.
Tegus are known to prey on these species' eggs, complicating ongoing conservation efforts for vulnerable animals.
The FWC is urging residents to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the invasive lizard to help researchers track and manage its spread.
Florida residents who spot the reptiles are encouraged to report sightings by calling the FWC's Exotic Species Hotline at 888-483-4681.Original article source: Destructive invasive lizard species spreading through Florida, Southeast
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Friday Is the Longest Day of the Year in the Northern Hemisphere
This article was published in 2024 and has been updated for 2025's summer solstice. On Friday, everyone in the northern half of our planet will experience the summer solstice. It'll be the longest day of the year north of the Equator, and it is the scientific start of summer. Earth has a solstice every six months, in June and in December. Leading up to the summer solstice, the sun appears in a higher spot in the sky at the same time each day until it reaches its maximum point. After the summer solstice, the days will get shorter. The sun will appear lower in the sky each day until the winter solstice, on Dec. 21. What time is the summer solstice this year? According to the National Weather Service, the summer solstice will occur on Friday at 10:42 p.m. Eastern time (it will be Saturday, June 21, in Coordinated Universal Time). This is the moment during the day when the sun reaches its most northern point in the sky during the year. Why do we have solstices? The sun's height in the sky each day changes because Earth spins on an axis that is tilted 23.5 degrees away from vertical. This means that depending on the time of year the hemispheres lean either toward or away from the sun. This is what gives Earth its seasons: When the northern half of the planet leans toward the sun, it experiences summer; at the same time, the southern half of the planet leans away from the sun, and is in winter. It is a mystery why Earth is angled this way, though some astronomers believe that its tilt paved the way for life to exist. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is today the longest day of the year? What to know about summer solstice.
The longest day of the year, and the official start of summer, has arrived in the U.S. The summer solstice takes place Friday, June 20, and will be both the longest day and shortest night of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Recognized as a day of extra sunlight that ushers in warmer weather to come, the solstice is also celebrated in multiple cultures and religions. It marks the start of the Pagan holiday Litha, also known as Midsummer, which is famously celebrated at the ancient Stonehenge ruins in Wiltshire, England, where many gather to herald the season. Here's what to know about the solstice. The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere will greet winter with its winter solstice. The summer solstice will take place on Friday, June 20, at 10:42 p.m. ET, according to The solstice itself only lasts moments, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The date of the summer solstice can fall at any point between June 20 and June 22, depending on the year. During the summer solstice, the Earth's tilt brings our planet's northernmost point closer to the sun, resulting in more hours of sunlight and fewer hours of night. "The Northern Hemisphere's tilt toward the Sun is greatest on this day," according to NASA. "This means the Sun travels its longest, highest arc across the sky all year for those north of the equator." Several locations around the world are particularly known for celebrating the solstice, including Newgrange in Ireland. Solstices are often associated with pagan religions and draw revelers of different faiths. Pagans come by the thousands to Stonehenge, the prehistoric ruins of a monument built between approximately 3100 and 1600 BC in Wiltshire, England. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the U.K., but little is known about the civilization that built it or why, as these ancient peoples left no written records behind. It was during the 20th century that Stonehenge became a site of religious significance to people who subscribed to New Age beliefs, including Neopaganism and Neo-Druids, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the sun, and to this day, thousands of people gather to witness the moment the sun peeks perfectly through its pillars. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is today the longest day of the year? Explaining summer solstice
Indianapolis Star
10 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Is today the longest day of the year? What to know about summer solstice.
The longest day of the year, and the official start of summer, has arrived in the U.S. The summer solstice takes place Friday, June 20, and will be both the longest day and shortest night of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Recognized as a day of extra sunlight that ushers in warmer weather to come, the solstice is also celebrated in multiple cultures and religions. It marks the start of the Pagan holiday Litha, also known as Midsummer, which is famously celebrated at the ancient Stonehenge ruins in Wiltshire, England, where many gather to herald the season. Here's what to know about the solstice. The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere will greet winter with its winter solstice. The summer solstice will take place on Friday, June 20, at 10:42 p.m. ET, according to The solstice itself only lasts moments, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The date of the summer solstice can fall at any point between June 20 and June 22, depending on the year. During the summer solstice, the Earth's tilt brings our planet's northernmost point closer to the sun, resulting in more hours of sunlight and fewer hours of night. "The Northern Hemisphere's tilt toward the Sun is greatest on this day," according to NASA. "This means the Sun travels its longest, highest arc across the sky all year for those north of the equator." Several locations around the world are particularly known for celebrating the solstice, including Newgrange in Ireland. Solstices are often associated with pagan religions and draw revelers of different faiths. Pagans come by the thousands to Stonehenge, the prehistoric ruins of a monument built between approximately 3100 and 1600 BC in Wiltshire, England. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the U.K., but little is known about the civilization that built it or why, as these ancient peoples left no written records behind.
