---
title: "Red Tegu"
description: "Salvator rufescens — Reptiles. The red tegu (Salvator rufescens) is a lizard native to western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/red-tegu
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Red Tegu

> Salvator rufescens — Reptiles. The red tegu (Salvator rufescens) is a lizard native to western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.

- Scientific name: *Salvator rufescens*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `zoo` (Zoo & pets)
- iNaturalist observations: 516
- Wikidata: [Q18460489](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18460489)
- iNaturalist taxon: [318759](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/318759)

## Names

- en: Red Tegu
- de: Roter Teju
- es: Lagarto colorado

## Countries with the most observations

AR (333), PY (46), BO (14)

## Summary

The red tegu (Salvator rufescens) is a lizard native to western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. It is sold in the pet trade around the world due to its ease of care and relatively docile nature.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tegu

## Photo

![Red Tegu](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/red-tegu/medium.jpg)

Photo: Hugo Hulsberg · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21025476

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/red-tegu?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).