Although the green iguana has so far received the most attention, two other Latin American species are in farming trials. And the omnivorous tegu lizard, which produces a valuable leather, is beginning to be farmed in Argentina and is briefly described opposite. Both iguana species are described in the following chapters. They are highly prized for their skins, which are made into leather for handbags and similar items. Poor agri- cultural conditions make farming difficult in the Chaco, and sale of a single tegu skin is worth more than a day's wages for a farmhand.
Some families also eat the tegu meat and use the fat for medicinal purposes.
In many areas, the populations have already been driven to the verge of extinction. Husbandry, therefore, could be beneficial. Traders are hoping that captive operations run by families can eventually replace hunting. It can occur in great numbers in pastures, probably because of the insects associated with cattle. But it also occurs in areas that are unsuitable for cattle.