Reptiles · Crocodilia · Alligatoridae

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

Least Concern

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

It is the top predator of the Amazon and the largest caiman species in the world. It was hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century for its skin.

Weight

95 kg – 750 kg

Size

up to 6 m

Lifespan

65 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

It is the top predator of the Amazon basin and the largest caiman species in the world.
More than 90% of its population was wiped out in a century by hunting for its skin.
The largest documented males are over 5 metres long.
conservaciónIt is one of the largest predators in the Amazon basin, and its recovery after decades of intensive hunting is regarded as one of South America's reptile conservation successes.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Rivers, lakes and floodplains of the Amazon basin
Birth weight: ~90-155 grams (egg); hatchling ~30 cm long
Size at birth: 30 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: 4-10 years (mature from ~2 m in length)
Gestation / incubation: 60-90 days (some sources give 42-90 days depending on the region)
Litter / clutch size: 21 to 75 eggs per clutch (average ~39)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 40 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Britannica; Reptiles of Ecuador; Dimensions.com; IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group; Animal Diversity Web; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Wikipedia (Black caiman); AnimalSpot