Caiman (genus): Difference between revisions

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 |accessdate=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 |accessdate=2015-09-08}}</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 |accessdate=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>

 

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/>