Reptiles · Crocodilia · Alligatoridae

Spectacled Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It owes its name to a striking bony ridge between the eyes that recalls the bridge of a pair of spectacles. It is the most widely distributed crocodilian in the world, and the most heavily exploited for its skin.

Weight

7 kg – 60 kg

Size

1.4 m – 3 m

Lifespan

35 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Freshwater

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Fun facts

The bony ridge between its eyes recalls the bridge of a pair of spectacles, hence its name.
It is the most widely distributed crocodilian in the world.
Several females may gather hatchlings from different mothers into communal crèches.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton with osteoderms (crocodilian reptile)
Habitat & environment: Rivers, wetlands and shallow slow-moving water of Central America and northern South America, with introduced populations in Florida and Cuba
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial at hatching
Sexual maturity: 4-7 years (~1.2 m in the female, ~1.4 m in the male)
Gestation / incubation: 65-104 days
Litter / clutch size: 10 to 40 eggs per clutch (most commonly 20-30)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 40 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Dimensions.com; Animal Diversity Web; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animalia.bio; Lincoln Park Zoo; Britannica; The Animal Facts; ActiveWild; Wikipedia (Spectacled caiman); PMC (Pantanal growth study)