Come meet Ginobili at the Animal Connections Conservation CenterWho is a native of Argentina, often seen in black and white, runs very fast and has powerful limbs, currently lives in San Antonio, and when you see him, you will probably be reminded of a basketball?
This week, I would like to introduce you to another member of our Animal Ambassador Team, Ginobili the Argentine giant tegu. Giant tegus are the largest of the tegu species, with distinctive patterns of white and black dots and stripes over their entire body. They are omnivores, and here at SeaWorld, Ginobili enjoys a rounded diet of rodents, fruits, and vegetables.
Tegus use their long tongues to capture scents from the air. Much like other reptiles, tegus have forked tongues which they use to sense smell. If you have an opportunity to visit with Ginobili over at the Animal Connections Conservation Center, you'll notice that he often will flick his tongue, which captures scent particles in the air. Those scent particles are then taken into his Jacobson's Organ, which is a sensory organ on the roof of his mouth for processing the scent. Interpreting scents tells tegus like Ginobili lots of information about their surroundings.
Another thing that many guests notice about Ginobili is his large jowls. These chubby cheeks are a secondary male characteristic, and may help him look attractive to female tegus.
Argentine giant tegus can make great pets under the right conditions. They are known to be docile and highly intelligent. However they require a lot of specialized care, including controlled temperature, humidity, light, and the right type of substrate for burrowing. As their name implies, Argentine giant tegus can grow to be very large (up to 4.5 feet and 20 lbs), and need a lot of space. Ginobili originally came from a family who purchased him from a pet store, but did not realize how large he would be. He soon outgrew the space in their apartment and was adopted by SeaWorld.
Ginobili meets SeaWorld Adventure CampersThe next time you're at SeaWorld, don't forget to stop by the Animal Connections Conservation Center and say hello to Ginobili and the other members of the Animal Ambassador Team. In addition to many opportunities to meet, touch, and learn about animals, you will also find out about SeaWorld's conservation efforts locally and around the world. See you there!
