Spectacled caiman
Caiman crocodilus
9.91111, -84.5222
Field Notes
Description:
Males of the species are generally 2 to 2.5 metres (6.6 to 8.2 ft), while females are smaller, usually around 1.4 metres (4.6 ft). A relatively small to medium sized crocodilian, the spectacled caiman is named for the bony ridge between the front of the eyes, which appears to join the eyes like a pair of spectacles.Juvenile spectacled caimans are yellowish in colour, with black spots and bands on the body and tail. As an individual matures, it becomes more olive-green, and the markings become less distinct. Interestingly, this species may have some ability to change colour.
Habitat:
It is found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh; due in part to this adaptability it is the most common of all crocodilian species.
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