Caiman Lizard

Description:

The Caiman Lizard is built similarly to its cousin the tegu, with a large heavy set body and short but powerful limbs. Its head is bulky and often a red or orange color. Their jaws are heavily muscular to help aid in eatting its normal prey of snails, crawfish and fresh water clams. It also has a few adaptaions that help it in its watery habitat. It has a long and flattened tail, similar to its name sake, the Caiman. The long tail helps the Caiman Lizard to successfully swim and dive. It also has a clear third eyelid which is thought to act like a pair of goggles 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 become up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 10 lbs.

Habitat:

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 prey: 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. The lizard has been known to even kill and eat amazon river turtles. By crushing shell by the edges and eating its softer parts chunk after chunk.

Notes:

The second photo shows one underwater with the nictitating membrane closed over the eye. Photographed at the Nashville Zoo.