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REPTILES |
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CAIMANS:
The crocodilians have been around for nearly 200 millions years, there are 21 species of them. Crocodile hearts are almost as advanced as those of birds and mammals. In fact their closest living relatives are the warm-blooded birds. Many crocodilians even gather brush to build nests, as birds do.
The caimans (crocodilian) is ideally adapted to its life as predator. When it is submerged in the water, very little of its body is exposed, apart from its eyes. They are positioned close together, in such a manner that binocular vision is possible.
Caimans hunt at night, and have a keen sense of smell. Having detected suitable pray, caimans can snap their jaws with considerable force, they possesses the basin instinct to prove as an effective hunter. Moving quietly and remaining hidden for as long as possible before striking out.
They are “cold-blooded” and rely on their environment to provide their body warmth. In the morning they will come on the land, basking to gain the benefits of the sun rays. Then, as midday approaches and the sun become stronger, the reptiles will tend to retreat back into the water, to prevent overheating.
In the Manu National Park are possible to find the White Caiman (Caiman crocodiles), the Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) and the Schneider’s dwarf Caiman.
TURTLES:
Turtles are old creatures in the evolutionary sense; the turtle’s body is a curious anatomical arrangement that has impressively stood the test of time. In most of the Amazonia, turtles are now considered endangered specie. There are 7 species of them in Manu, which the most sighted, are the grooved side neck turtle and the Yellow headed side neck turtle. |
MANU BACKPACKERS