Common name : Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, Musky caiman, Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman
Scientific name : Paleosuchus palpebrosus
Family : Alligatoridae
Native to : Northern and Central South America
Interesting fact : In some cultures, wearing the teeth of dwarf caimans is believed to protect people from snake bites.
Conservation status : Least Concern
They are very small caimans typically 1.4 metres long. So even their bellies are covered in scales for extra protection. It has a short up-turned snout. They live in freshwater rivers and streams, and are also found on rocks and inside burrows. They prey upon fish, frogs, crabs and shrimps, and live for 20 to 40 years.
