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Caiman. A caiman ( / ˈkeɪmən /; also cayman as a variant spelling [1] from Taíno kaiman [2] [additional citation (s) needed]) is an alligatorid belonging to the subfamily Caimaninae, one of two primary lineages within the Alligatoridae family, the other being alligators. Caimans are native to Central and South America and inhabit marshes ...
- Caiman (Genus)
Caiman is a genus of caimans within the alligatorid...
- Spectacled Caiman
The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the...
- Black Caiman
The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian...
- Yacare Caiman
The yacare caiman (Caiman yacare), also known commonly as...
- Brachychampsa Sealeyi
Brachychampsa is an extinct genus of alligatoroid, possibly...
- Mourasuchus
Mourasuchus is well known for its strange anatomy, its skull...
- Broad-snouted Caiman
The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a...
- The Caiman
The Caiman (Italian: Il caimano, referring to the caiman) is...
- Caiman (Genus)
The largest of these species is the black caiman, a potentially dangerous animal attaining a maximum length of about 4.5 metres (15 feet). The other species normally attain lengths of about 1.2–2.1 metres, with a maximum of about 2.7 metres in the spectacled caiman. The spectacled caiman, a native of the tropics from southern Mexico to Brazil ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Classification and Evolution
- Anatomy and Appearance
- Distribution and Habitat
- Behavior and Lifestyle
- Reproduction and Life Cycles
- Diet and Prey
- Predators and Threats
- Interesting Facts and Features
- Relationship with Humans
- Conservation Status and Life Today
There are six species of caiman found in a variety of wetland habitats throughout Central and South America. Caimans are animals that are most closely related to alligators with which they share a number of similar characteristics. Like other crocodilians (a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials), caimans are...
Caimans are animals that have wide, slightly flattened bodies and long vertically flattened, muscular tail that propels them through the water with immense power. Like other crocodilians, their nostrils and eyes are located on the top of their snout and head which means that they can still both breathe and see whilst being almost fully submerged an...
Caimans are found inhabiting a wide range of wetland habitats throughout Central and South America, the exact locations and habitat preferences are dependent on the species. Spectacled caimans (also known as the common caiman) are the most common and widespread species and have also been introduced into areas outside of their natural range includin...
Caimans spend most of the daytime hours resting in the water or basking on river banks in the sun and are mostly active at night. Although all caiman species are semiaquatic, some spend more time on land than others. Spectacled caimans rarely leave the safety of the water whereas black caimans often leave the water under the cover of darkness to hu...
Caimans become sexually mature when they are between four and ten years old, depending on the species. The timing of the breeding season is also species dependent: spectacled caimans breed during the wet season in May and June, whereas black caimans breed during the dry season. Females build nest mounds from either vegetation or mud that can be up ...
Caimans are formidable predators that hunt and consume a wide variety of animal matter. Due to their largely aquatic lifestyle, fish (such as catfishand piranha), crustaceans, and other small-sized aquatic animals make up the bulk of their diet. They are also known to hunt birds (particularly waterfowl) along with amphibians and small mammals. Capy...
Due to their large size and formidable nature, adult caimans have very few predators within their natural environments. Large big cats such as jaguarsare the most common and successful predators of caimans. The small size of young caimans, however, means that they are easier targets to be preyed upon by other animal species. Along with wild cats, b...
Unlike mammals that have just two sets of teeth that last them for their whole lives, caimans continuously shed and replace their teeth in order to keep them razor-sharp. The new set of teeth grows beneath the existing one, pushing the old tooth out when the new one is fully developed. Due to their semi-aquatic lifestyle, caimans have a number of f...
Caimans have been hunted by people for their tough skins that are most commonly used in the production of clothing, primarily shoes and to make bags. They are also hunted locally for meat which is an important protein source for some populations. In more recent years, they have been heavily affected by habitat loss to make way for growing human set...
Today caimans are listed by the IUCN as animals that are of Least Concern of becoming extinct in the near future. Despite enormous population declines (the black caiman population is thought to have diminished by 99% over the past 100 years), they are still thriving in certain regions. Interestingly, the demise of larger crocodilian species through...
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The caiman lizard is a large reptile with a green body and reddish-orange head. It has a long, laterally flattened tail and raised, horn-like scales along its back that offer some protection from predators. This lizard has a forked tongue for locating prey and powerful jaws with short, rounded teeth. This semiaquatic species spends part of its ...
Apr 15, 2024 · A black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) entering the water. Although black caimans are able to hunt on land, they strike primarily from the water to surprise their prey. (more) Most adults are massive individuals, measuring between 4 and 5 meters (13 and 16 feet) in length and roughly 350 kg (770 pounds) in weight; indeed, some exceptionally large ...
- John P. Rafferty
The average length for most of the caiman species is about 6.6 – 8 ft (2 – 2.5 m), but there are smaller dwarf species, and the gigantic black caiman which can reach a length of 20 ft (6.1 m). Females tend to be smaller than males. Caimans are usually dull browns, grays, or greens to help keep them camouflaged while they are hunting.
