Spectacled Caiman Crocodile

(Caiman crocodilus)

The upper side of the Spectacled caiman is mostly brownish-, greenish-, or yellowish-gray colored and has dark brown crossbands, with a lighter underside. It has a greenish iris and wrinkled eyelids. It changes color seasonally – during colder weather, the black pigment within its skin cells expands, making it appear darker. The species has an enlarged 4th tooth, and the teeth in its lower jaw penetrate into a socket in its upper jaw. It has a long snout that tapers moderately, with an unexpanded tip. Several ridges begin in front of its eyes and travel to the tip of its snout.

Spectacled caimans are found in various countries throughout the Americas. They usually lives in forests, inland bodies of freshwater, grasslands, shrublands, and savannas.

Spectacled caimans are carnivorous and their prey changes along with their increase in size. They will eat insects, snails, crabs, shrimps, fish, lizards, snakes, turtles, mammals, and birds.

Spectacled caimans live together in loose-knit groups but prefer to be solitary except in the mating season. They are nocturnal and usually hunt at night, being immobile most of the day and staying submerged.

Information collected from https://animalia.bio/spectacled-caiman and https://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/animals/spectacled-caiman/