I love this weird city. A crowd of shrieking and pointing passersby attracted me to the front entrance of Knockouts on my way back from lunch this afternoon. It was not a dancer doing something outrageous. It was the biggest four-legged reptile I’ve ever encountered outside of a zoo. It was rough and reddish, with a long white band on its tail and enormous jowls. Unlike the speedy Godzilla, or a Komodo dragon, it was crawling along like cold honey. And it was moving steadily towards the Knockouts door. His owner stood calmly minding him, answering questions from rubberneckers like me.Me: “Holy shit!”Owner: “ … “Me: “What is that?”Owner: “Red tegu.”Me: “Where’s it from?”Owner: “Argentina.”Me: “Oh my god, what does it eat?”Owner: “Meat. He’s a carnivore.”Me: “Holy shit!”The nice man explained, however, that he has this particular red tegu on a diet of wet dog food. Still, I wouldn’t try to pet it, as they are known for eating anything that can fit between their jaws.
Red Tegu Tuesday, 1:45 p.m. to until it crawls away, which could be awhileCentral Avenue, in front of the strip club
