Caiman is a genus of caimans within the alligatorid subfamily Caimaninae. They inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small sized crocodilians, with all species reaching lengths of only a couple of meters and weighing 6to on average.
The genus Caiman contains three extant (living) species: the Broad-snouted caiman ("Caiman latirostris"), the Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), and the Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare). There are also several extinct fossil species in the genus - possibly up to eight species. The genus Caiman belongs to the caiman subfamily Caimaninae, and the relationships of the living species of caimans can be shown in the cladogram below, based on molecular DNA-based phylogenetic studies:[1]
The below detailed cladogram of Caimaninae includes extinct fossil species, based on morphological analysis:[2]
Caimans are similar to alligators in morphology but differ in having bony plates, known as osteoderms, buried in the skin on the underside. The broad-snouted and spectacled caimans are characterised by having a bony ridge across the bridge of the nose just below the eyes.[3] The yacare caiman is the largest species in the genus, attaining an average adult length of 2.5to,[4] the spectacled caiman reaches 2to, with the female rather smaller,[5] and the broad-snouted caiman is the smallest, more typically measuring 1.8to for males and 1.2to for females.[6]
This genus is present in Central and South America. The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) occurs in Central America and parts of the northern half of South America at altitudes of up to about 800-2NaN-2. It is usually found in freshwater, but also visits the brackish water of estuaries on occasion. It has varying habitats including wetlands and slow-moving rivers and streams.[7] The yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) occurs in the central part of southern South America, particularly in the Pantanal region, the largest tropical wetland area in the world, which is flooded seasonally by the Paraguay River.[8] The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) occurs in central and eastern South America, its range including southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina, within the drainage systems of the Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay and São Francisco Rivers.[9]
Caimans spend much of their time basking on mudflats or in sunlit, muddy jungle streams. In the dry season, large numbers may accumulate in pools as the surrounding land dries up. They can move on land with some rapidity, hiss when disturbed, and young individuals can inflate themselves before opening their jaws aggressively. Caimans do not usually attack humans but domestic livestock are at risk. They seize their prey and drag it underwater to drown it. They may observe a potential prey, swim away, submerge and return to attack the floating bird or drinking mammal from underwater. Juvenile caimans feed on crustaceans and molluscs while larger animals feed on amphibians, fish, birds, mammals and reptiles.[3]
A caiman nest is a mound of vegetation and mud consolidated by the female by lying on it. She then digs a hole in it and buries a few dozen eggs in it. When these hatch, the juveniles use their egg teeth to break their way out. They are about 230NaN0 long at hatching, growing to 600NaN0 by a year later. They look like miniature versions of their parents but have relatively shorter snouts and larger eyes.[3]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caiman crocodilus | Central and South America | ||
| Caiman latirostris | Broad-snouted caiman | Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia | |
| Caiman yacare | northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, southeastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, central/southwest Brazil, and the rivers of Paraguay | ||
Species known only from fossil remains: