Argentine black and white tegus are sometimes simply called black and white tegus although this can lead to confusion as there is also a Colombian tegu (which is similar but smaller and less docile). Sometimes Argentine tegus are also called giant tegus or big-headed tegus. As its common name implies, these lizards hail from Argentina and other parts of South America.
Female tegus are slightly smaller than their male counterparts, but both sexes have a fairly distinctive pattern of white and black dots and stripes all over their bodies. Despite their large size compared to other tegus, Argentine black and whites enjoy a reputation for being more docile than their smaller counterparts. This is especially true of Argentine tegus that are handled regularly from a young age. These lizards can get up to 4 feet long and can live up to 15 years in captivity!