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Spectacled caiman

Species of crocodilian native to the Neotropics / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the white caiman,[6] common caiman,[7] and speckled caiman,[8] is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae. It is brownish-, greenish-, or yellowish-gray colored and has a spectacle-like ridge between its eyes, which is where its common name come from. It grows to a length of 1.4–2.5 m (4 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) and a weight of 7–40 kg (15–88 lb), with males being both longer and heavier than females. Its diet varies seasonally, commonly consisting of crabs, fish, small mammals, amphibians and snails. Breeding occurs from May to August and 14–40 eggs are laid in July and August. This crocodilian has a large range and population; it is native to much of Latin America, and has been introduced to the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

Quick facts: Spectacled caiman Temporal range Pleistocene...
Spectacled caiman
Temporal range: Pleistocene - Present,
2.58–0 Ma[1]
Caiman_crocodilus_llanos.JPG
In Llanos, Venezuela
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[3]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Alligatoridae
Subfamily: Caimaninae
Clade: Jacarea
Genus: Caiman
Species:
C. crocodilus
Binomial name
Caiman crocodilus
Caiman_crocodylus_Distribution.png
Native range (green)
Synonyms[4]
  • Jacaretinga crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Lacerta crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Caiman sclerops Schneider, 1801
  • Crocodilus sclerops Schneider, 1801
  • Caiman yacare Daudin, 1802
  • Crocodilus caiman Daudin, 1802
  • Jacare hirticollis Gray, 1867
  • ?Caiman venezuelensis Fortier & Rincón, 2013[5]
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