Editing Caiman (genus)

{{Short description|Genus of reptiles}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Caiman'' (genus)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| name = ''Caiman''

| fossil_range = [[Middle Miocene]]–[[Holocene|Present]], {{fossilrange|16|0|ref=<ref name="Rio2021">{{cite journal |last1=Rio |first1=Jonathan P. |last2=Mannion |first2=Philip D. |date=6 September 2021 |title=Phylogenetic analysis of a new morphological dataset elucidates the evolutionary history of Crocodylia and resolves the long-standing gharial problem |journal=[[PeerJ]] |volume=9 |pages=e12094 |pmid=34567843 | doi=10.7717/peerj.12094 |pmc=8428266 |doi-access=free}}</ref>}}

| taxon = Caiman

| display_parents = 2

| image = Caiman_yacare.jpg

| image_caption = [[Yacare caiman]], ''Caiman yacare''

| authority = [[Johann Baptist von Spix|Spix]], 1825

| type_species = ''[[Caiman crocodilus]]''

| type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758

| subdivision_ranks = Subgroups

| subdivision = [[#Taxonomy|See text]].

| synonyms = * ''Jacaretinga'' <small>Spix, 1825</small>

* ''Champsa'' <small>Wagler, 1830</small>

* ''Jacare'' <small>Gray, 1844</small>

}}

'''''Caiman''''' is a genus of [[caiman]]s within the [[alligatorid]] [[subfamily (biology)|subfamily]] [[Caimaninae]]. They inhabit [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. They are relatively small sized crocodilians, with all species reaching lengths of only a couple of meters and weighing {{convert|6|to|40|kg|lb|abbr=on}} on average.

==Classification==

The [[genus]] ''Caiman'' contains three [[extant taxon|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:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bittencourt |first1=Pedro Senna |last2=Campos |first2=Zilca |last3=Muniz |first3=Fabio de Lima |last4=Marioni |first4=Boris |last5=Souza |first5=Bruno Campos |last6=Da Silveira |first6=Ronis |last7=de Thoisy |first7=Benoit |last8=Hrbek |first8=Tomas |last9=Farias |first9=Izeni Pires |date=22 March 2019 |title=Evidence of cryptic lineages within a small South American crocodilian: the Schneider’s dwarf caiman ''Paleosuchus trigonatus'' (Alligatoridae: Caimaninae) |journal=[[PeerJ]] |volume=7 |page=e6580 |doi=10.7717/peerj.6580 |pmid=30931177 |pmc=6433001 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

{{clade

|label1=[[Alligatoridae]]

|1={{clade

|label1=[[Caimaninae]]

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=''Paleosuchus palpebrosus'' [[Cuvier's dwarf caiman]]

|2=''Paleosuchus trigonatus'' [[Schneider's dwarf caiman]] }}

|label2=[[Jacarea]]

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=''Caiman crocodilus'' [[Spectacled caiman]]

|2=''Caiman yacare'' [[Yacare caiman]] }}

|2=''Caiman latirostris'' [[Broad-snouted caiman]] }}

|2=''Melanosuchus niger'' [[Black caiman]] }} }}

|label2=[[Alligatorinae]]

|2={{clade

|1=''Alligator sinensis'' [[Chinese alligator]]

|2=''Alligator mississippiensis'' [[American alligator]] }} }} }}

The below detailed cladogram of [[Caimaninae]] includes extinct fossil species, based on [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] analysis:<ref name="Cicade2020">{{Cite journal |last1=Cicade |first1=G.M. |last2=Fortier |first2=D. |last3=Hsiou |first3=A.S. |year=2020 |title=Taxonomic and phylogenetic review of Necrosuchus ionensis (Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) and the early evolution and radiation of caimanines |journal=[[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=189 |issue=2 |pages=657–669 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz051|doi-access=free }}</ref>

{{clade| style=font-size:85%;line-height:85%

|label1='''[[Caimaninae]]'''

|1={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Culebrasuchus mesoamericanus]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Gnatusuchus pebasensis]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Globidentosuchus brachyrostris]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Eocaiman palaeocenicus]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Eocaiman itaboraiensis]]''

|2={{extinct}}''[[Eocaiman cavernensis]]''

}}}}

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Kuttanacaiman iquitosensis]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Bottosaurus harlani]]''

|2={{extinct}}''[[Tsoabichi greenriverensis]]''

|2={{clade

|1=''Paleosuchus trigonatus'' [[Smooth-fronted caiman]]

|2=''Paleosuchus palpebrosus'' [[Cuvier's dwarf caiman]]

}}}}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Paranasuchus|Paranasuchus gasparinae]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Mourasuchus amazonensis]]''

|2={{extinct}}''[[Mourasuchus pattersoni]]''

}}

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Mourasuchus atopus]]''

|2={{extinct}}''[[Mourasuchus arendsi]]''

}}}}}}

|label2=[[Jacarea]]

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Necrosuchus ionensis]]''

|2={{extinct}}UCMP 39978

|3={{extinct}}''[[Caiman wannlangstoni]]''

|4={{extinct}}''[[Centenariosuchus gilmorei]]''

|5={{extinct}}''[[Caiman brevirostris]]''

|6=''Melanosuchus niger'' [[Black caiman]]

|7=''Caiman latirostris'' [[Broad-snouted caiman]]

|8=''Caiman yacare'' [[Yacare caiman]]

|9=''Caiman crocodilus'' [[Spectacled caiman]]

|10={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Acresuchus pachytemporalis]]''

|2={{clade

|1={{extinct}}''[[Purussaurus neivensis]]''

|2={{extinct}}''[[Purussaurus mirandai]]''

|3={{extinct}}''[[Purussaurus brasiliensis]]''

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

==Characteristics==

Caimans are similar to alligators in morphology but differ in having bony plates, known as [[osteoderm]]s, 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.<ref name=Burton>{{cite book|author1=Burton, Maurice |author2=Burton, Robert |title=International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Brown bear – cheetah|url=https://archive.org/details/internationalwil10burt0 |url-access=registration |year=2002 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-7269-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/internationalwil10burt0/page/n65 358]–360}}</ref> The yacare caiman is the largest species in the genus, attaining an average adult length of {{convert|2.5|to|3|m|ft|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_cyac.htm |title=''Caiman yacare'' (Daudin, 1802) |author=Briton, Adam |work=Crocodilian species list |access-date=2015-09-09}}</ref> the spectacled caiman reaches {{convert|2|to|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, with the female rather smaller,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_ccro.htm |title=''Caiman crocodilus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) |author=Briton, Adam |work=Crocodilian species list |access-date=2015-09-09 |archive-date=2015-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022054929/http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_ccro.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the broad-snouted caiman is the smallest, more typically measuring {{convert|1.8|to|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} for males and {{convert|1.2|to|1.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} for females.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_clat.htm |title=''Caiman latirostris'' (Daudin, 1801) |author=Briton, Adam |work=Crocodilian species list |access-date=2015-09-09}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==

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 {{convert|800|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}. 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.<ref name=ADWcc>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Caiman_crocodilus/ |title=''Caiman crocodilus'': Common caiman, spectacled caiman |author=Terry, Kayla |year=2010 |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=2015-09-08}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Yacare caiman: The Comeback Croc |author=Smith, Roff |url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/yacare-caiman/smith-text |newspaper=National Geographic |date=2013-07-01 |access-date=2015-09-08 |archive-date=2017-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731184219/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/yacare-caiman/smith-text |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 River|Paraná]], Paraguay, [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]] and [[São Francisco River]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/04_c-c7ff4560.pdf |title=Broad-snouted Caiman: ''Caiman latirostris'' |author1=Verdade, Luciano M. |author2=Larriera, Alejandro |author3=Piña, Carlos I. |publisher=IUCN |access-date=2015-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308154704/http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/04_C-c7ff4560.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-08 }}</ref>

==Behaviour==

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.<ref name=Burton/>

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 {{convert|23|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long at hatching, growing to {{convert|60|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} by a year later. They look like miniature versions of their parents but have relatively shorter snouts and larger eyes.<ref name=Burton/>

==Taxonomy==

===Extant species===

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Image !! Scientific name !! Common name !! Distribution

|-

|[[File:Spectacled Caiman.JPG|120px]] || ''Caiman crocodilus '' || [[Spectacled caiman]] || Central and South America

|-

|[[File:Jacaré de papo amarelo 2.jpg|120px]] || ''Caiman latirostris '' || [[Broad-snouted caiman]]|| Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia

|-

|[[File:Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) 2.jpg|120px]] || ''Caiman yacare'' || [[Yacare caiman]] || northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, southeastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, central/southwest Brazil, and the rivers of Paraguay

|-

|}

=== Fossil species ===

Species known only from [[fossil]] remains:

* †''[[Caiman australis]]'' {{small|Bravard 1858}} - [[Ituzaingó Formation]], [[Argentina]]<ref name=FWCaimanAustralis>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=346444 ''Caiman australis''] at [[Fossilworks]].org</ref>

* †''[[Caiman brevirostris]]'' {{small|Souza Filho 1987}} - [[Solimões Formation]], Brazil and [[Urumaco Formation]], Venezuela<ref name=FWCaimanBrevirostris>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=268181 ''Caiman brevirostris''] at [[Fossilworks]].org</ref>

* †''[[Caiman praecursor]]'' {{small|Rusconi 1933}} - Ituzaingó Formation, Argentina<ref name=FWCaimanPraecursor>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=267673 ''Caiman praecursor''] at [[Fossilworks]].org</ref>

* †''[[Caiman wannlangstoni]]'' {{small|Salas Gismondi et al. 2015}} - [[Honda Group, Colombia|Honda Group]], [[Colombia]], [[Pebas Formation]], [[Peru]] and [[Urumaco Formation]], Venezuela<ref name=SalasGismondietalcrocodylians>{{cite journal |author1=Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi |author2=John J. Flynn |author3=Patrice Baby |author4=Julia V. Tejada-Lara |author5=Frank P. Wesselingh |author6=Pierre-Olivier Antoine |year=2015 |title=A Miocene hyperdiverse crocodylian community reveals peculiar trophic dynamics in proto-Amazonian mega-wetlands |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=282 |issue=1804 |pages=20142490 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2014.2490 |pmid=25716785 |pmc=4375856}}</ref>

''[[Caiman venezuelensis]]'' from the [[Pleistocene]] epoch is probably a junior synonym of the [[spectacled caiman]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Giovanne M. Cidade |author2=Daniel Fortier |author3=Ascanio Daniel Rincón |author4=Annie Schmaltz Hsiou |year=2019 |title=Taxonomic review of two fossil crocodylians from the Cenozoic of South America and its implications for the crocodylian fauna of the continent |journal=Zootaxa |volume=4656 |issue=3 |pages=475–486 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4656.3.5 |pmid=31716812 |s2cid=202012442 }}</ref> Some fossil taxa previously included within the genus ''Caiman'' now belong to separate extinct genera, including ''[[Acresuchus]]'' and ''[[Paranasuchus]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Souza-Filho|first1=Jonas P.|last2=Souza|first2=Rafael G.|last3=Hsiou|first3=Annie Schmaltz|last4=Riff|first4=Douglas|last5=Guilherme|first5=Edson|last6=Negri|first6=Francisco Ricardo|last7=Cidade|first7=Giovanne M.|date=2018-09-03|title=A new caimanine (Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea) species from the Solimões Formation of Brazil and the phylogeny of Caimaninae|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=38|issue=5|pages=e1528450|doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1528450|bibcode=2018JVPal..38E8450S |s2cid=91964360|issn=0272-4634}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1= Bona|first1=P.|last2=Barrios|first2=F.|last3=Ezcurra|first3=M.D.|last4=Victoria|first4=M.|last5=Blanco|first5=F.|last6= Cidade|first6=G.M.|year=2024|title=New taxa of giant caimans from the southernmost hyperdiverse wetlands of the South American late Miocene|journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology|volume=22|issue=1|doi=10.1080/14772019.2024.2375027}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Extinct Crocodilia|A.}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q11001288|from2=Q272582|from3=Q644453|from4=Q756678|from5=Q104830572|from6=Q724767|from7=Q20080405}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Reptiles described in 1825]]

[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Baptist von Spix]]

[[Category:Reptile genera]]