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NLehde
06-29-2010, 08:03 AM
Does anyone know if it is even possible for Columbian and Argentine Tegues to cross breed? I ask because the other day a fellow in our area listed an adult tegu for sale and upon calling him the first question was if this was an Argentine or a Columbian. He said that he wasn't really sure but if we would come and see it we would understand. When we pulled up in front of his house he was outside with the animal in hand and my son and I both perked up because at first glance it looked like an Argentine, much more white on the body than black, about three to three and a half feet long, calm disposition, banded tail, ect. When we got closer though there were gold flecks on the head and the scales on the head were more like plate although the body seemed to be beaded. Neither my son or I claim to be authorities but we do own two Argentines and have seen plent of Columbians. I can honestly say that this thing didn't seem to be altogether one or the other and before you ask I couldn't recall exactly how that buisness with the scale count between the eye and the nasal opening went so I can't answer for sure but I think that it was consistant with a Columbian. The fellow said that it had been eating fruit,,which doesn't sound like a Columbian and it really had very little black on it plus I don't think I've ever seen a Columbian that big. All the same the head seemed very Columbian even if the body wasn't. The owner said that it was a female. We didn't buy it but ever since seeing it I find myself wondering if the two could even breed and if that what might be what it was. Any thoughts from those who know better would be appreciated.

laurarfl
06-29-2010, 12:56 PM
There are no documented crosses. There has been discussion on it...http://www.thetegu.com/showthread.php?5746-Has-anybody-seen-a-Col.-and-Arg.-TEGU-X-Is-it-possible It pops up now and again as a topic of discussion.

I have two Colombians that eat fruit and one looks he would be an Arg cross if it were possible. He's large, black, and really laid back. :)

NLehde
06-29-2010, 07:57 PM
Laura,
Thank you for answering. I hadn't heard of Columbians eating fruit before but that clears things up a little. I'm still a tad confused over the size. This animal was easily three and a half feet long and had the stocky sort of body that I associate with an Argentine and the fellow selling it said that he was sure that it was a female. He mostly kept monitors so I'm going to work with the assumption that he can sex a lizard and that it really was a female. Do Columbian females even get that big? The other thing is that there was very little black, it was more of a unform shade of light grey, and I associate majority black with gold flecks with the Columbian and very little white or light coloration. Thanks, NLehde

Pikey
06-29-2010, 09:12 PM
i've seen Colom get 3 1/2ft, think of it this way all the Coloms if seen get stocky but look like "pipes" where Argens are "curvy".... and argens have plate scales on their heads, underside of legs & bellies, but beaded back & sides

The gold i dont know about, but one of my Argens have a rusty sheen to it's face, & ones yellow orange tint to it's back & sides

laurarfl
06-30-2010, 12:01 AM
Neither of my Colombians have any gold on them, but plenty do. One is Black and white and the other has a lot of black. There can certainly be a lot of variety in color, more white, more black, some gold. Colombians definitely have that smooth plated head and smooth beaded skin. They are sexed by the appearance of "buttons" or "spurs", which are hard bumps by the vent. just..fyi...

Here's my female Colombian, Oreo:
<a href="http://s313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/?action=view&current=DSC03610.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/DSC03610.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And the male, Chester. He's almost 3 1/2" Feet long, but mostly tail. He's not as big as an Arg. He is VERY laid back and will just saunter around.
<a href="http://s313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/?action=view&current=Chesterbasking.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/Chesterbasking.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/?action=view&current=DSC02753.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll392/laurarfl/DSC02753.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

NLehde
06-30-2010, 06:35 PM
Good looking pictures and thanks for showing them. I guess there is more diversity to Columbians than I realized. Thanks to everyone for the help.