South Carolina officials have documented the first confirmed sighting of a black and white tegu lizard, a non-native species that can have a detrimental impact on the state's wildlife.

The female lizard, found and removed from Lexington County, measured about 2.5 feet long, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) said in a news release on Friday. The species can reach up to 4 feet and weigh more than 10 pounds.

"The introduction of any non-native species can have serious negative impacts on native wildlife.