Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: Frogs, Snakes, Lizards, and Caimans

In addition to all the amazing birds and mammals high in the trees of the Amazon there are many reptiles and amphibians down on the ground and in the river itself. There are many deadly snakes found in the Amazon, but luckily the only one I saw was very far away through a very big zoom lens, but I did get up close and personal with a small snake, a few stunning frogs, a couple of caiman lizards and two small lizards mating and half a dozen caiman. Unlike the mammals and birds who either are curious and came to check me out or were scared and ran away, the reptiles and amphibians took a different tactic and would freeze when I came close. Their defense mechanism is to freeze hoping I wouldn’t see them if they stayed very still, which made for some great photography! Caimans are much tamer than crocodiles or alligators and we were able to canoe right next to them and at times I had my camera mere inches from their mouth. When they finally realized I could see them their reaction was to simply go below the water and disappear. They are nocturnal animals and I saw a few larger ones at night, but the younger ones who come out during the day make for great photography subjects.