Dracaena (lizard)

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Dracaena Temporal range: Mid Miocene-recent ~13–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Northern caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Teiidae
Subfamily:	Tupinambinae
Genus:	Dracaena Daudin 1802
Species
Dracaena guianensis Daudin 1802 (type) Dracaena paraguayensis Amaral 1950 †Paradracaena colombiana Estes 1961

Dracaena (romanized form of the Ancient Greek δράκαινα - drakaina, "female dragon"^[1]), is a genus of lizards, also commonly called caiman lizards or water tegus, in the family Teiidae, along with tegus and ameivas. Caiman lizards are native to South America, where they are found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. These semiaquatic lizards spend a lot of time in the water and inhabit marshes, streams, and flooded forests. Caiman lizards often bask on branches overhanging the water.