Spectacled caiman
| Spectacled caiman | |
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| on Tobago | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Alligatoridae |
| Clade: | Jacarea |
| Genus: | Caiman |
| Species: | C. crocodilus |
| Binomial name | |
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Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus, 1758 [originally Lacerta]) |
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| Map of caiman distribution | |
| Synonyms | |
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Species synonymy
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The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the white caiman or common caiman, is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America. 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.
The spectacled caiman is a Small and medium-sized crocodilian. Males of the species are generally 1.8 to 2 m (5.9 to 6.6 ft), while females are smaller, usually around 1.2–1.4 m (3.9–4.6 ft). The body mass of most adults is between 7 and 40 kg (15 and 88 lb). The maximum reported size for the species is 2.5 m (8.2 ft), with a body mass of 58 kg (128 lb) but they can growing up to 3 m in length potentially. The largest female was reportedly 1.61 m (5.3 ft) long and weighed 20 kg (44 lb). Caimans from the Venezuelan llanos are reportedly larger-bodied than specimens from Mexico. The species' common name comes from a bony ridge between the eyes, which gives the appearance of a pair of spectacles. Overall a typical crocodilian gray-green coloration, this species has been known to change color. During colder weather, the black pigment, found within their skin cells, will expand, making them appear darker.
Caimans eat a variety of invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Larger caimans eat fish and water snails. Older animals are capable of taking larger, mammalian prey (e.g. wild pigs). As conditions become drier, caimans stop feeding. In areas where this species has become depleted, fish populations have also shown a decline. Until recently, C. crocodilus was thought to overeat the fish and snail populations. Some suggest they control piranha populations. However, piranhas have not been found to be a normal diet component. The yacare caiman does demonstrate this particular dietary preference. In reality, C. crocodilus likely is very much a generalist and adaptive predator, given its ecological success.
The spectacled caiman reaches sexual maturity from four to seven years old. Usually, the more dominant individuals mature more quickly. They gather and mate during the dry season. After mating season ends, the females build nests out of dense vegetation. The size of the nest varies depending on the resources available to the female. Each female can lay up to 40 eggs. The larger females have recently been found to lay larger eggs than smaller females lay. Most caimans nest during the wet season. Seeing a caiman nest during any winter months is very unusual; the temperature is too low for the eggs.
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Wikipedia