Black Caiman

Description:

The largest predator in the Amazon, Melanosuchus niger is capable of growing to more than 6 m. It resembles the American Alligator but is biologically more closely related to the other caimans. The Black Caiman retains its distinctive skin markings into adulthood: they display grey or brown banding on the lower jaw, and display white or yellowish bands on the sides of the body (Britton 1999, Magnusson 1998).

Habitat:

Melanosuchus niger is often associated with steep banks alongside slow-moving freshwater rivers, lakes, wetlands, black water swamps, and seasonally flooded areas of the Amazon. (Britton 1999, Magnusson 1987).

Notes:

This beauty is at Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens! I was there at feeding time and got to see this impressive reptile get on on its two back legs and raise the front part of its body to get the rabbit that was being fed thru a string on a stick.