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This is a photo of a caiman lizard, one of the largest lizards found in the Amazon.   They can easily grow to be up to 4 feet in length, and mostly weigh about 5-6 lbs.   They are named after the black and spectacled caimans, which are members of the crocodilian family.  

The caiman lizard is fairly common, though hunters often target the caiman lizard for its skin.   Purses, shoes, and other materials can be made from the caiman lizard skin.

Even though they are quite common, it's hard to always get a good long look at the caiman lizard.   We often see caiman lizards hanging out on branches over the water.   If we try to get to close, they simply drop into the water and swim away very quickly. The move like lightning, and often we only hear caiman lizards plopping into the water, rather than actually seeing them.