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Northern Caiman Lizard

dracaena guianensis

Description:

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. It also has a clear third eyelid which is thought to act like a pair of goggles underwater. 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. (Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Auqa Terra Zoo Vienna; in the wilde: Northeastern South America. Mainly in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Guyana. It lives in swampy habitats and other wooded areas which are flooded.

Notes:

This species was heavily hunted for their leather. 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 since been set up to provide animals for the leather trade. In recent years a number of these animals have found themselves in the pet trade. (Wikipedia)

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Saarbrigger
Spotted by
Saarbrigger

Wien, Wien, Austria

Spotted on Jan 4, 2012
Submitted on Feb 26, 2012

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