Category: Reptiles
This relatively diminutive caiman is the smallest of all the crocodilians and is native to South America. Adults rarely exceed fifteen pounds and do not grow larger than five feet long. They are considered a “keystone” species that helps keep a healthy balance of other organisms sharing their ecosystem.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuvier's_dwarf_caiman
The not-a-snake
The slow worm has a long body, lacks limbs, and is covered in lustrous scales - so is it a snake? No, it is a lizard! Because unlike snakes, the slow worm has eyelids, visible ears, and like many lizards, its tail can break off in the mouth of a predator, allowing them to escape for another day. The slow worm belongs to the Anguidae family, and similarly (but independently) lost their limbs to better adapt to their environments. These “not-snakes” can be found in gardens throughout Europe and the UK, helping to control the population of slugs and other pests, though you probably won’t see any if you have a cat: a slow worm will likely prove a favorite food of your cat!
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