Common Name: Northern Caiman Lizard
Scientific Name: Dracaena guianensis
Life Span: 10 to 30 years
Diet: Snails, crawfish, clams, fish, and even turtles
Weight: 8 to 12 lb.
Length: 4 to 5 ft depending on if it’s male or female
Location: Northern South America
Does it make a good pet?
Yes, they can make great pets. They are more for the very experienced keepers, however. They require large habitats with a large amount of water. These animals are very smart and learn quickly. Some keepers have had success with training their lizards to assist in handling. With regular handling, they can become quite tame.
Habitat
Caiman Lizards are native to South America around the Amazon River Basin from Brazil and Guyana, westward to Peru and Ecuador. They live in swampy habitats and other wooded areas that are flooded.
Conservation status: Least Concern (Population stable)
Family: Teiidae
Order: Squamata
Phylum: Chordata
Genus: Paradracaena
