A manual labourer in Brazil has lost a finger after a black-and-white tegu lizard bit him while he attempted to give it water. The incident occurred when Jos Olimpio offered the wild reptile a drink from his bottle, prompting the lizard to lunge forward and sink its teeth into his hand.
Attack and Emergency Response
The lizard's jaws remained clamped on Olimpio's fingers as colleagues desperately tried to pry them open. Once the lizard was released, the man was rushed to a local clinic where he underwent emergency surgery the same day, resulting in the amputation of one of his fingers.
The culprit was identified as a black-and-white tegu (Salvator merianae), the largest lizard species in Brazil. Native to Central and South America, these lizards can reach up to 50cm (20in) in body length, with some specimens growing up to two metres long (7ft). They typically feed on insects, birds, rodents, amphibians, other lizards, eggs, fruit, and leaves, and usually only attack humans when feeling threatened.
Expert Analysis
Jefferson Marcelo, a biologist from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, explained the lizard's behaviour: "The animal went to where the leaves were specifically to protect itself from a potential predator. Even though the man was not there to prey on it, the animal doesn't understand that distinction. As the man got closer, it felt cornered, and when he came even closer, it ended up attacking. This is the natural behaviour of an animal that feels trapped and threatened."
Marcelo advised: "People should avoid touching the animal, especially with their hands. If they want to leave food or water, it's best to place it near the animal and step away, otherwise it won't eat or drink. If the animal appears, the best option is to call the fire brigade or environmental police."
Previous Incidents
In late 2023, a viral video from Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, captured a similar incident where a local man attempted to toss an egg to a wild tegu lizard. Instead of taking the offering, the lizard aggressively lunged at the man's hand, prompting warnings from local wildlife experts to avoid feeding the reptiles.
Christian Raboch Lempek, a biologist from the Fujama environmental agency, commented: "The lizard was used to being fed and got used to getting close to human beings, seeing them as sources of food. In this case, the animal ended up flying at the man's hand."
