Caiman Lizard
The caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) is a semi-aquatic lizard of the Amazon basin, with a crocodile-like armor of ridged scales on its back and tail. It looks like a small caiman, hence the name.
The caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) is a semi-aquatic lizard of the Amazon basin, with a crocodile-like armor of ridged scales on its back and tail. It looks like a small caiman, hence the name.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Caiman Lizard in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Reptilia lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
A Snail Crusher: Molar-Like Teeth
The lizard feeds mainly on snails, which it crushes with broad, rounded teeth at the back of its jaw. It swallows the soft body and spits out shell fragments. This is unusual for a lizard.
Life in Flooded Forest
The caiman lizard lives in swamps and flooded forest, basking on branches over water and diving when disturbed. It swims using a vertically flattened tail like a crocodile's.
Look-Alike by Convergence
Its armor and swimming habit are similar to those of crocodilians, an instance of convergent evolution in different reptile groups. See Spectacled Caiman.
Caiman Lizard at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dracaena guianensis |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Teiidae |
| Field Guide group | Reptilia (Reptiles) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Semi-aquatic green lizard with a red head, crocodile-like back scales, and broad flat molars for crushing snails. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC) |
| Family | Teiidae |
| Diet | Snails |