One of the most fascinating lizards in the reptile world is the caiman lizard, from the genus Dracaena, also known as water tegus.
There are currently two recognized classifications of the caiman lizard.
- Dracaena guianensis – The northern caiman lizard
- Dracaena paraguayensis – The Paraguayan caiman lizard
A third, Dracaena columbiana, is extinct and only known through fossils.
You may have seen these lizards in zoos or sold as pets, and be wondering which one you are seeing.
The northern caiman lizard, Dracaena guianensis, is the one most commonly found in the reptile industry.
Quick Caiman Lizard Facts
| Caiman lizard size | 2.5 – 5 feet |
| Caiman lizard weight | 7-12 pounds |
| Caiman lizard diet | Mostly freshwater snails, but will also eat shrimp, clams, insects and rodents |
| Caiman lizard habitat | Along rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of freshwater |
| Caiman lizard predators | South American birds of prey, snakes, large cats such as jaguars, crocodiles and caiman. |
Are Caiman Lizards Crocodilians?
Most people are at least somewhat familiar with alligators, crocodiles and caimans. All of which are in the crocodilian family.
It’s natural to assume caiman lizards would fall somewhere in the mix, and is probably the most asked question I receive about these lizards.
Are caiman lizards related to caimans and other crocodilians? No, caiman lizards are not related to crocodilians. They are in fact related to tegus. They are called caiman lizards because of the scales going down their back which look much like an actual caiman.
Where Can Caiman Lizards Be Found?
Caiman lizards can be found throughout much of South America.
The northern caiman lizard lives in Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and the Guineas as noted by Wikipedia.
The Paraguayan caiman lizard resides in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.
All caiman lizards enjoy basking themselves on branches overhanging water, allowing them to jump in to cool off, or make a quick getaway when threatened.
With that in mind, you will find them in habitats such as along rivers, in marshes, by lakes, near streams and throughout flooded forests.
Do Caiman Lizards Make Good Pets?
You can find caiman lizards on display in many zoos throughout the country. They are also available to buy as pets online, at some reptile shows and occasionally at some select pet stores.
This does not make them good pets however.
Do caiman lizards make good pets? Caiman lizards only make good pets for advanced herpetologists who have the space and means necessary to provide them with the right habitat and diet. These lizards require enough water area to swim, land area to move around, and climbing area to seek out branches over the water. In addition to that, they have a specialized diet of freshwater snails, shrimp and other crustaceans.
If you want to learn more about what it’s like to own of of these lizards, check out my caiman lizard care guide.
How Smart Are Caiman Lizards?
If you’ve ever owned a lizard before, then it won’t surprise you to learn that these guys are pretty smart.
We aren’t talking primate smart, or even dog smart, but they are definitely aware of what’s going on around them and will react to it.
Caiman lizards recognize their owners, and learn to quickly recognize routines. They tend to get excited when they know it’s feeding time, and have even been known to seek out affection from their owners.
In the wild, this translates to a lizard that is able to discern snails clinging to rocks under water, hunt underwater and on land, and can use water, land and trees to protect itself.
Is A Caiman Lizard Poisonous?
Several years ago, the only lizards thought to be venomous were the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard.
The Komodo dragon can now add its name to this list, as it was recently discovered that they too are venomous. As a matter of fact, their venom is believed to be as potent as a cobra, though it is much slower to act. I covered this in my article called 11 Surprising Facts About Komodo Dragons.
This new revelation led scientists to begin doing deeper research on lizards, monitors specifically, and it is now believed there are several others that may be venomous as well.
Is the caiman lizard poisonous? No, the caiman lizard is not poisonous nor venomous. They do however, have an extremely powerful bite. They use their back jaws to crush open snail shells, clams, shrimp and other hard shelled crustaceans.
How Long Can Caiman Lizards Hold Their Breath?
Caiman lizards live primarily by water, and do much of their hunting in water as well.
With this type of lifestyle, you would expect that they can hold their breath for quite awhile. And you would be right to think so!
Caiman lizards can hold their breath underwater for an astounding 16 minutes!
I don’t know about you, but that’s a LOT longer than I can hold mine!
You may be wondering which reptile can hold its breath the longest. That would be the sea turtle. They hold their breath an average of 4-7 hours, but have been known to go longer.
Can A Caiman Lizard Regrow Its Tail?
Lizards are known for losing their tails and regrowing them. Most do this for defense. If a predator grabs it by the tail, it can lose its tail and save its life.
While some lizards can fully regrow their tail back to its natural glory, this is not the case for the caiman lizards.
Can a caiman lizard regrow its tail? Caiman lizards can partially grow back their tails, but not back to the original size and shape. Instead of regenerating vertebrae, the caiman lizard grows cartilage where the tail once was. Their tail is a valuable tool which they need to survive. They also rarely lose their entire tail. They typically only lose the bottom three quarters.
The regrown tail is duller in color, and will lose much of the distinctive scales that these guys are known for. It will also be shorter and stumpier than the original tail.
Do Caiman Lizards Shed?
As reptiles grow, they shed their skin.
The caiman lizard is no exception.
When a reptile grows, its inner layers of skin reproduce cells, while the outer layer does not. The outer layer of skin does stretch however. This is evidenced by the fact that a baby caiman lizard can double its size in a relatively short period of time without having to shed it skin every few days.
Caiman lizards do shed, just like all other lizards.
Caiman Lizards Are Diurnal
Caiman lizards are typically active throughout the day, and sleep at night.
During the day you might find them foraging for food, basking on branches, moving to different locations in order to thermoregulate, or simply resting while they let their food digest.
At night, these lizards usually find a safe resting spot in trees or bushes where they can sleep, safely hidden from predators.
Caiman Lizards Are Solitary Reptiles
Some lizards live in loose groups.
Lizards like the leopard gecko and anoles, can often be found in multitudes if they have enough space to not intrude on one another.
Other lizards, like the chameleon, are extremely territorial and will not tolerate any other lizards anywhere near them.
The caiman lizard falls in between. They are solitary animals that prefer to be alone, but will not aggressively defend a large area of territory.
Summary
There is still a lot that is not known about the caiman lizard in the wild. Very little scientific research has been done on these reptiles.
We don’t even have an accurate estimate of how many there are!
As they have slowly gained popularity in the pet reptile industry however, we have at least begun to learn more about their needs.
Definitely a lizard worth learning more about!