THE GREAVED LIZARDS 



2515 



The Teju 



One of the largest and best- known representatives of the family is 

 the lizard variously termed the teju, teguexin, or jacuaru (Tupinam- 

 bis teguexin}, which ranges over a large portion of South America and the West In- 

 dies, and belongs to a genus comprising three -species. These lizards may be 

 recognized by the tail being round at the root and slightly compressed near the 

 middle, the double fold of skin on the neck, the uniform scales of the back, the 

 rather small squared shields of the under surface of the body, which are arranged 

 in more than twenty rows, the want of teeth on the palate, the compressed tricuspid 

 cheek teeth of the young, and the long tongue, which is of nearly equal width 



SURINAM AMEIVA. 



(One-half natural size.) 



throughout, and sheathed at the base. In old individuals the crowns of the cheek 

 teeth become obtuse. The teju, which attains a length of about a yard, is a bulky 

 and strikingly-colored lizard. Above, the ground color is olive, upon which are 

 markings and bands of black, and more or less distinct rows of lighter spots; while 

 the under surface is yellowish, with interrupted black bars; the lines of division be- 

 tween the shields of the head being black. 



Ranging from Guiana to Uruguay, the teju is said by Bates to be very common 

 in the forests of the Amazon, where it may be observed in numbers during the mid- 

 day stillness scampering, apparently in sport, over the dead leaves; while in other 



