Caimans are often confused with crocodiles and alligators but are very distinct from their close relatives.
There are six species of caiman that exist.
Caimans can be found in much of central and South America in countries such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, French Guyana, Columbia, Peru, and Brazil.
Caimans are found in swamps mangroves and flooded savannahs where they enjoy the rich marshy lands and watery enclaves.
They are an endangered species due to the loss of habitat around them and poaching as well as they have highly sought after skin and meat.
Their skin is covered in armour like scales that can vary in colour from olive green, grey, brown or black.
Caimans skin occasionally has spotted r strips on it, that can camouflage it. Depending on the species They measure up to 5 to 20 feet in length and weigh in at between 220 to 1100 pounds.
Caimans use their long flattened taeakhabaar to both swims and to protect themselves from predators.
Caimans have very good eyesight and hearing which they use to hunt their prey. They are carnivores and will hunt prey such as fish, crustaceans, small reptiles and birds. When they are born, young caimans will not be weaned by their mother but eat will eat insects by themselves.
Caimans are in facts very good for their natural habitat as they keep the number of animals under control so their numbers don’t escalate in that area. Caimans daily activity is mainly enjoying basking in the sun in their habitat Because of their size strength and temper they don’t have many predators. However, jaguars and humans and are pretty much their biggest predator. Caimans are very good at swimming.
They are able to travel up to speeds of 30 mph in water.
They are not social creatures and enjoy the solitary life except, during mating season at the end of the dry season when they have an abundant food supply. Female caimans build mounds in the ground of up to 5 ft wide and they will lay up to 65 eggs which they will guard for 6 weeks until they hatch. Young caimans will be looked after by their mother until they are mature enough to leave the nest. Caimans are able to live for 30 to 40 years in the wild and up to 60 years in captivity.
The black caiman is the largest of all the caiman species and can grow up to 5 metres long. They are found in the lakes and slow-moving rivers of the Amazon basin.