Noronha and the Teju lizard

Salvador Merianae, Photo - David G. Barkasy

            This post is going to inform about the introduction of the Teju lizard (Tupinambis merianae) in Fernando de Noronha.

            The Tupinambis merianae (now know as Salvator merianae) is a Teiidae lizard. In South- eastern Brazil this large lizard is reported to prey on invertebrates and vertebrates, and to feed on carrion, fruits, and fungi (Kiefer and Sazima, 2002; Marques and Sazima 2004; Toledo, Prado and Andrade 2004; Maffei et al., 2009). Also, because of they size S. merianae is able to attack even large mammals (Sazima and Haddad, 1992; Martuscelli and Olmos, 1996; Cicchi, 2006). 

            In 1950s Noronha was used as  a military base and 2 couples of Teju were introduced in the Island trying to control the infestation of rats (That were also introduced). However, these lizards are diurnal animals and mice are active at night (Mathews & Brand, 2005).
           "The lizard found an abundant food supply, however, in the form of the eggs of seabirds nesting on the island. Its effect on ground-nesting birds was so severe that they were forced to move to smaller islands nearby. The combined impact of predation followed by a reduction in breeding space may well have caused a decline in the population of some bird species. In the meantime, the lizard population has steadily grown, and by 2004 was estimated at between 2 000 and 8 000 on the 17 km2 island" (Mathews & Brand, 2005).

            This example shows how unpredictable is the nature and how animals will behave in a new environment, this species has caused an incalculable damage to local fauna, such as birds and turtles.



Works Cited:

Cicchi, P.J.P. (2006): Tupinambis merianae (Tegu). Diet. Herpetological Review 37: 347.

Kiefer, M.C, Sazima, I. (2002): Diet of juvenile tegu lizard Tupinambis merianae (Teiidae) in southeastern Brazil. Amphibia-Reptilia 23: 105-108.

Maffei, F., Ubaid, F.K., Medolago, C.A.B., Jim, J. (2009): Tupinambis merianae (Common Tegu). Diet. Herpetological Diet. Herpetological Review 40: 439.

Marques, O.A.V., Sazima, I. (2004): História natural dos répteis da estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins. In: Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, p. 257-277. Marques, O.A.V., Duleba, W., Eds., Ribeirão Preto, Holos.

Mathews, S., Brand, K. (2005): South America invaded : the growing danger of invasive alien species / edited by Sue Matthews and Kobie Brand. 

Martuscelli, P., Olmos, F. (1996): Tupinambis teguixin (Common Tegu). Foraging. Herpetological Review 27: 21.

Olson SL  (1981)  Natural history of vertebrates on the Brazilian Islands of the Mid south Atlantic.  National Geographic Society Research Reports 13: 481-492.

Oren DC  (1984)  Resultados de uma nova expedição zoológica a Fernando de oronha.  Boletim do Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Zoologia 1: 19-44.

Sazima, I., Haddad, C.F.B. (1992): Répteis da Serra do Japi: notas sobre história natural. In: História Natural da Serra do Japi, p. 221-236. Morellato, L.P.C., Ed., Campinas, Editora da Unicamp/FAPESP.

Sazima, I., Haddad, C.F.B. (2003): Range of animal food types recorded for the tegu lizard (Salvator 
merianae) at an urban park in South-eastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes, volume 6: 427-430.

Toledo, L.F., Prado, C.P.A., Andrade, D.V. (2004): Tupinambis merianae (Tegu Lizard). Fungivory. Herpetological Review 35: 173-174.