Facts and Features of South American Caiman Lizard

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Teiidae

Genre: Dracaena

Scientific Name: Dracaena guianensis

Type: Reptile

Diet: Carnivore

Size (L): 60cm - 121cm (2 ft - 4 ft)

Weight: 1.4 kg - 2.7 kg (3 lbs-6 lbs)

Maximum speed:16 km/h (10 mph)

Life Period: 10-30 years

Lifestyle: Solitary

Preservation Status: Least Concern

Color: Black, Brown, Tan, yellow, gray

Skin:Scales

Favorite Eating: Insects

Habitat: Rain forest and swamp areas

Average Clutch Size: 6

Main Diet: insects, fish, crabs

Attackers:jaguar, large snakes,Human

Distinguishing features: forked tongue, powerful tail

The Caiman lizard is a  medium-sized species of lizard lives in South American jungles.The Caiman lizard is strongly built and is one of the largest lizard species in the America.The caiman lizard can be found in the tropical jungles and swamps areas of South America in the countries of Brazil ,Colombia ,Ecuador and Peru .Caiman lizards are seen more frequently in areas that are flooded ,as they are aquatic creatures .

The caiman lizard is a large and stocky lizard is known to grow up to 120 centimeters of its snout to the tip of its tail.Today, there is only one species of lizard  found in South America,i.e Northern Caiman lizard.

As it spends most of the time either in or around the water ,the lizard's body has adapted so it helps to live a aquatic lifestyle.The best example of this is the long and flat tail helps to give direction while swimming.

Caiman lizards are large carnivorous predators that only hunt other animals to obtain their nutrients.Snails are the main source of food for the lizard along with other invertebrates such as insects and crabs and sometimes larger animals such as fish, rodents and amphibians.

Due to its relatively large size,some part in water and some part in tree dwelling,so it consists of limited predators in it's surroundings.Large mammals such as jaguars are known to hunt the caiman lizard along with other large reptiles like snakes and crocodiles.

Although very little is known about the reproduction of the Caiman lizard,believed to behave in a manner similar to other species of large lizards.After mating ,the female  lizards lay their eggs in a hole in the bank of the river and covers them  to protect them from hungry predators.When babies are out of the eggs,they are fully independent since no prenatal care occurs.

Today, despite the Caiman lizard is not regarded as a species that is in immediate danger of extinction, Caiman lizard populations have been declining in specific areas ,mainly due to habitat loss often due to pollution and deforestation.