Chaguaramas Reptiles - Black Cribo

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 Genus: Caiman

(Carnivore) 

With it's bony ridge which is present between the front of the eyes (infra-orbital bridge), this gives the appearance like a pair of spectacles. A triangular ridge is present on the heavily-ossified upper eyelids. The juveniles have a yellowish appearance with blacks spots and bands on the body and tail, as they mature they become a dull in colour and more like and olive green colouration.

The caiman feeds on fish, amphibians, reptiles and water birds and as they grow larger they may take on larger mammals, such as agoutis, manicous or the unsuspecting monkey who decides to come down from the trees for a drink. 

 Order: Squamata  Genus: Micrurus

(Carnivore) 

VENOMOUS / DANGEROUS

 This venomous snake rarely grows much longer than 12 inches and it is just about thick as a pencil. It can easily be identified from its coloured bands which are arranged in the order of Red, White and Black along the length of it body. The venom of the coral is very potent and it attacks the nervous system (neurotoxic) of it's victims. The mouth of of the snake is very small, in fact the mouth is so small that it can bite only between your fingers and toes. The coral snake, usually hangs on while biting, injecting as much venom as possible. This deadly little snake should be left alone. 

 Genus: Iguana

( Omnivore )

The Iguana has long fingers and claws which are skillfully used for climbing. They also have good senses of hearing and smell, and superb vision. Their tails are long and also quite sharp, and is snapped in the air as a defense mechanism. If caught by a predator, the tail can also break off , but grows back without undeviating damage. The skin is tough to circumvent cuts and scratches.

The coloring of the skin is a camouflage mechanism, which means that they blend in easily to their surroundings to remain unnoticed by predators. Iguanas can quickly dive from trees into water, and swim well. Iguanas are quite rugged -- they sometimes fall 40-50 feet to the ground without getting hurt! 

Iguanas are diurnal, meaning that they are awake during the day. They are also cold-blooded, which means they do not produce their own body heat. In other words, if it is cold, the iguana is cold too. So to stay warm, green iguanas bask in the sun, lying on warm rocks as they soak up the sun's heat.

Both male and female green iguanas can store fat under their jaws and in their necks for times when there is not much food available.

Male green iguanas have a special flap of skin called the dewlap. Male iguanas can raise their dewlap to create the illusion that they are bigger than they really are, either to intimidate predators, or to impressive females.

Iguanas are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and meat. They tend to eat mostly plants, though, especially leaves and fruits. Sometimes iguanas (especially young ones) will eat eggs, insects, and small vertebrates

 Genus: -Leptophis

(Carnivore) 

The Lora or Parrot snake, is a medium-sized and slender body species. It can grow a total length of 172 cm (68 in), which includes a tail 59 cm (23 in) long. The head is elongated and distinct from the neck. The eye is large with a round pupil. The body is slender, and the tail is long. Its coloration is bright green, golden, or bronzy. The keels of the dorsal scales are black or dark brown. The upper lip and the belly are white or yellow. On the sides of the head is a black streak which looks like it passes through the eye.

It feeds on small birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs and their eggs, and insects. It is also known in some instances to show cannibalism and feed on other snakes which is an uncommon behaviour. 

 Genus: Chironius 

(Carnivore ) 

The Machette changes coloration from its time as a Juvenile snake to an adult. Juveniles tend to have a brown back with grayish tan bands, with white spots ventrolaterally on the frontal ends of the tan bands. The chin and throat are white, with dark brown irregular spots. The underside (belly) is tan-colored. Adults however, are nearly uniform brown dorsally, with traces of bands anteriorly. There is a lateral light tan stripe on the forward half of the body. The lower side is light gray with darker gray smudges on the throat.

Young birds, lizards, and mice are mainly what their diet consist of. ---

 Genus:  Bothrops

(Carnivore) 

VENOMOUS / DANGEROUS 

Also known as the Fer-de-Lance, generally grow to about 6 feet but have been known to reach over 8 feet in length. Females are larger than males. An Adult female averages approximately 60 young per litter. The young are roughly 12 inches in length, more vibrantly coloured than adults.

The head is triangular shaped and appears pointed due to hefty jaw muscles. The colours varies in many shades of brown, often with triangular markings on the back with their apexes at the spine (light stripes that may delineate triangles). The underneath of the snake’s head is pastel yellowish.

A terrestrial species, they can live an average of eight or more years  This snake should be avoided at all cost.

A highly venomous snake belonging to the pit viper species. This snake is very dangerous. It's venom is hemotoxic (attacks the blood stream).

Small mammals and birds are the chief part of the mappepire’s diet, but it additionally eats small reptiles. It has reserve fangs in case one is lost after striking prey. Generally active at night, but are not exclusively nocturnal and will hunt at whatever time required. They are excellent swimmers and even climb trees when necessary to reach their prey. Predominantly solitary, however they procreate year-round.

Mappepires attack with near-lightning speed. Unluckily, people are time and again bitten by the snakes, which can remain camouflaged for hours, practically unnoticeable. In Trinidad this danger is more likely in heavily forested areas and under developed communities.

 Genus:  Tupinambis 

(Omnivore ) 

 The Tegu is capable of growing to be approximately 2 to 3 feet on average, with a shiny body, powerful limbs and a broad tail. They have numerous black and gold stripes down their body. 

 They live in the tropical forests of northern, central South America and also in Trinidad. They feed on insects, invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles and birds, as well as fish and sometimes fruit. 

 Genus: - Epicrates 

(Carnivore) 

The Rainbow Boas are not only found in Trinidad and Tobago they are also distributed throughout most of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

The name Rainbow Boa is applied both to the entire genus Epicrates, or to the species Epicrates cenchria. Some of the other species of Epicrates are also referred to simply as Rainbow Boas, at least locally, because the majority of the species and subspecies are curbed to specific regions, often islands, and it is uncommon to come across two species in the same locality.

E. cenchria is the species for the most part are often kept as pets, and it has numerous subspecies, easily discernible by their markings, the majority of which have well established common names. If the term "Rainbow Boa" is used because of the rainbow colours seen particularly when the sun shines on the skin of the snake.

 Genus: Ameiva

(Omnivore ) 

The Green Ameiva has a pointed shaped head and a streamlined body, the tongue is slightly forked, and muscular hind legs. They grow to approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in). Both the males and females have random black specks and mottling along the sides. Females usually have much less green than males and a more dusty green colour. Males have vibrant green coloration and bolder mottling. Males also have more expanded jowls.

They spend most of their lives on the forest floor, often sheltering beneath logs and in leaf litter.

Their diet consists of mainly insects (such as grasshoppers, butterflies, cockroaches, mole crickets, beetles, termites, and insect larvae), however, they have been observed eating frogs, other lizards (such as anoles, dwarf geckos, skinks, and even conspecifics), amphisbaenians, spiders, snails, and even plant matter.