Caiman facts: discussing the crocodilians | Animal Fact Files

There are six caiman species living today. They are crocodilians. Crocodilians are animals classified in the Crocodilia Order and this order includes true crocodiles, alligators, gharials, false gharials, and caimans. Alligators and caimans are classified in the same family but they aren’t that closely related; they just happen to be more closely related to each other than the other crocodilians. Caimans are also the smallest of the crocodilians. Besides humans, adult caimans are hunted by jaguars, though younger individuals and smaller species may also be taken by anacondas, lizards, birds of prey, and wild boars. Their nests can be susceptible to predation, however, caimans are protective parents!

Scientific Name: Subfamily - Caimaninae
Range: Central and South America with introductions outside of this range
Size: 5.25 feet (1.6m) - 14.7 feet (4.5m)
Diet: insects, crustaceans, fish, mollusks, amphibians, and mammals including capybaras
Lifespan: 20-40 years old

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Image and Video Credits:
Thore Noernberg -    • Spectacled Caiman - Caño Negro, Rio F...  ;    • Spectacled Caiman -  Hato El Cedral i...  ;    • Spectacled Caiman Head - Isla Bastimi...  
YouTube Pirate -    • Small Alligators - Dwarf Caiman - Ody...  
Oak Creek Zoological Conservatory -    • Видео  
Snydert1778 -    • A Caiman that we found in the canoe t...  


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Walter S. Prado - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
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Research Credits:
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