Photo of the Week: Modeling Suitable Habitat for Invasive Tegu Lizards in the US under Climate Change

The USGS Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) is developing quantitative tools to predict the spread of invasive Tegu lizards in the US under future climate change scenarios. Native to South America, invasive populations have been established in four counties in Florida, and numerous sightings have been recorded in Georgia, South Carolina, as far north as North Carolina, and as far west as Texas. The egg-loving lizards pose a serious threat to native birds and reptiles. Understanding how climate change may facilitate the spread of Tegus is critical for early detection and rapid removal of incipient populations by management agencies.

Photo credit: USGS Fort Collins Science Center