Trivia question for Oct-28-2011

Olivia picked out this sly looking critter for her trivia, lets see how you do with this one.  Pronounced bony ridges around the eyes give this species its common name.

It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh; due in part to this adaptability it is the most common of all crocodilian species. Males of the species are generally 6.6 to 8.2 ft, while females are smaller, usually around 4.6 ft. They have been known to change color. During colder weather the black pigment, found within their skin cells, will expand making them darker.

So here are Olivia’s questions:  Tell us what this reptile is and where they can be found?  Also, this particular species accounts for the largest portion of the worlds demand for ______? (Fill in the blank)

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations goes out to Robert Yukon Joe Fenton from Winter Park FL for being the first to get our trivia correct. The sharp-eyed critter we featured is the Spectacled Caiman. The spectacled caiman, also known as the white caiman or common caiman, is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America.

These guys are one of the most widely distributed crocodiles.  The species’ common name comes from a bony ridge between the eyes, which gives the appearance of a pair of spectacles. Sadly, the spectacled caiman now supplies the greatest portion of the world market for crocodile skins.  Here is more on these cool crocs: Spectacled Caiman

Thanks for playing along 😉