Northern Caiman Lizard

Description:

The Caiman Lizard is built 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.

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 flooded. It is mostly aquatic and is an excellent climber. It spends most of it's time basking on branches overhanging the waterways so that if trouble was to arise it would be a quick drop into the safety of the water. He lives in the Denver Zoo

Notes:

I love this guy, he is so photogenic. I need to figure out what he is.