Northern Caiman Lizard

Northern Caiman Lizard
Northern Caiman Lizard
Northern caiman lizard resting on branch.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Dracaena
Species: D. guianensis
Binomial name
Dracaena guianensis
Daudin, 1802

The Northern Caiman Lizard is a species of lizard found in northeastern South America.

Contents

Appearance

The Caiman Lizard is build simliarly to its cousin the tegu, with a heavy set body and short but powerful limbs. Its head is bulky and often a red or ornage color. Their jaws are heavily muscular to help aid in eatting its normal pray of snails, crawfish and fresh water clams. It also has a few adaptaions that helps it in its watery habitate. It has a long and flattened tail, similar to its name sac the Caiman. This long tail helps the Caiman Liazrd to swim and dive. It also has a clear third eyelid which is thought to act like a pair of googles underwater.

The body of the caiman lizard is very similar to that of a crocodile. Its typically a bright green with slight dark green banding. There are horned raised scales along the dorsal of the back. This help to provide some protection against predators.

These lizards can get 4 feet long and weigh close to 10lbs.

Distribution & Habitat

This species can be found in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Guyana. It lives in swampy habitats and other wooded areas which are usually flooded. It is very aquatic and an excellent climber. It spends its time basking in branches overhanging the water ways. If trouble was to arise its a quick drop into the water to safety.

The number of these lizards out in the wild is still unknown. There has not been a large study on them done in their natural habitat. Much what we know about them comes from captive animals in zoos and aquariums.

They were heavily hunted for their leather in the early 90's. In 1970 they were provided protection and the export of their hides dropped. Now local populations are safe where their habitat is protected. Captive farms have been set up to provide animals for the leather trade. In the last few years a few of these animals have found themselves in the pet trade.

Habits

In water

The northern caiman lizard spends most of its time in or near water. At night, it hides in trees and bushes. Caiman lizards in the wild will take a variety of pray: snails, fish, crawfish, clams, invertabrate and other freshwater inhabitants all can make up a caiman lizards diet. However they do specialize in snails. It takes the snail in the jaws, raises its head up so that the prey will slide into the back of the mouth, then crushes it with its back teeth. It then spits out the pieces of shell.

In Captivity

The Caiman Lizard has been hard to keep in captivity, even most zoos have given up trying to keep these lizards. Due to their diet of snails most wild caught adults will refuse to eat anything else. Some zoos have had success in keeping and breeding them.

In the last five years, farmed baby caiman lizards from South America have made their way into the pet trade around the world. These hatchlings are more willing to except other food sources. Even so, these are not an easy lizard to keep in captivity. They have strong jaws that can cause a painful bite. The aquatic life style means they need a large pool or tank, but also need a place to dig and burrow and logs in which to bask. Their need for high humidity and hot basking temps also are hard to accommodate. Combined all that with a animal that will grow 4 feet long, its going to need a large enclosure.

That being said, some owners say there is a reward to keeping them. Caiman lizards are intelligent as can be seen in the way the approach a snail that in clinging to the rocks. They can solve problems and generally can recognize their owners.

There is a lot that still needs to be learned about this reptiles, both in captivity and in the wild.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dracaena (lizard) — Dracaena Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

  • François Marie Daudin — (March 25, 1774 – 1804) was a French zoologist. With legs paralyzed by childhood disease,[citation needed] he studied of physics and natural history, but ended up being devoted to the latter. Daudin wrote Traité élémentaire et complet d… …   Wikipedia

  • List of introduced species — A complete List of introduced species for even quite small areas of the world would be dauntingly long. Humans have introduced more different species to new environments than any single document can hope to record. The following list of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of reptiles of Canada — This is a list of the reptiles species recorded in Canada. There are few reptiles in Canada, as only a few species have been able to adapt to the diverse, generally colder Canadian climate. Most species are confined to the southernmost parts of… …   Wikipedia

  • Crocodile — For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation). For differences between alligators and crocodiles, see Crocodilia#Differences between alligators and crocodiles. Bilateria Crocodiles Temporal range: Eocene – Recent, 55–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

  • Natural history of Trinidad and Tobago — Location of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago has some of the richest natural communities in the Caribbean. Unlike most of the islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago supports a primarily South American flora and… …   Wikipedia

  • reptile — reptilelike, adj. reptiloid /rep tl oyd /, adj. /rep til, tuyl/, n. 1. any cold blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia, comprising the turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, amphisbaenians, tuatara, and various extinct members including the… …   Universalium

  • crocodile — crocodiloid /krok euh dil oyd, krok euh duy loyd/, adj. /krok euh duyl /, n. 1. any of several crocodilians of the genus Crocodylus, found in sluggish waters and swamps of the tropics. 2. any reptile of the order Crocodylia; crocodilian. 3. the… …   Universalium

  • Ecology of Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidad and Tobago has some of the richest natural communities in the Caribbean. Unlike most of the islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago supports a primarily South American flora and fauna. As a result, Trinidad and Tobago is richer in… …   Wikipedia

  • Principal national parks of the world — ▪ Table Principal national parks of the world Africa Europe and Russia Asia North America and the Caribbean Australia and Oceania South America Africa country national park date area description protected status national park status square miles… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”