Dwarf Caiman
Size: Can grow to a maximum length of about 5 feet.
Habitat: Forested areas near streams and rivers throughout most of the northern and central regions of South America.
Diet: Crabs, shrimp, fish, and other small animals
Small but important
Dwarf caimans are considered a "keystone species" that maintain ecosystem structure and function by selective predation. Some fish species, such as piranhas, could quickly over-populate and transform the ecosystem without these predators. Though small in size, caimans have fewer predators than the young of larger species because of their heavily armored and jagged skin.