golden tegu
golden tegu Lexical Profile
• noun
A large species of predatory lizard native to the tropical forests and savannas of northern and central South America, characterized by smooth, glossy scales with black and golden-yellow banding.
"During the expedition to the Amazon basin, the researchers managed to photograph a golden tegu foraging for insects and fallen fruit in the underbrush."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the exotic pet trade, the golden tegu is often distinguished from the Argentine black and white tegu; the golden tegu is generally recognized as having a more defensive and skittish temperament.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name pairs the English descriptive word 'golden' (referring to its yellowish banding) with 'tegu', which derives from the Old Tupi indigenous word 'teju', meaning lizard.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.