Crocodilurus Amazonicus (Crocodile Tegu). Diet

Crocodilurus amazonicus is a medium-sized neotropical lizard widely distributed throughout the Amazon Basin and Orinoco River. It prefers semi-aquatic habitats, often being found near water. There are few published accounts of the ecology and natural history of this lizard. Vanzolini and Valencia (1965. Arq. Zool. São Paulo 13:7–46) described C. amazonicus dentition as insectivorous, whereas Presch (1974. Herpetologica 30[4]:344–349) suggested that C. amazonicus dentition is adapted for grasping and tearing large prey. Vertebrates have been recorded for the diet of
C. amazonicus, including anurans, a snake, and fish (Costa et al., 2005 Herpetol. Rev. 36:174–175; Mesquita et al. 2006. J. Herpetol. 40:221–229). The identity of fish species consumed and the method of prey capture remain unknown.