Spectacled Caiman Information

Spectacled Caiman conservation status
The estimated wild population exceeds 1 million individuals.
The Spectacled caiman is one of the most common of all crocodilian species, but depletion has taken place in certain areas. The subspecies C. c. apaporiensis is for instance under severe threat in Colombia and serious depletion is reported from El Salvador. The major threat comes from illegal hunting.
The Spectacled caiman has actually been promoted by the depletion of other crocodilians within its range (chiefly the American crocodile, Orinoco crocodile and Black caiman) since this has allowed the caiman to take over new habitat from which it has traditionally been outcompeted. When the more valuable species started to become increasingly scarce in the mid 20th century, Spectacled caiman hunting did however increase.
Despite intense hunting plus collection for the pet trade, the Spectacled caiman populations are in relatively good condition in most parts of the species range. It has taken over habitat from more severely depleted species and is also making use of man-made bodies of water. Well developed sustainable use programs exist in several countries.
Spectacled Caiman range
The Spectacled caiman is native to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Tobago, Trinidad, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. The species has been introduced to Cuba and the UnitedStates (including Puerto Rico). On Cuba and Puerto Rico, you will find the subspecies C. c. fuscus.
Caiman crocodilus has the widest distribution of any species in the Alligatoridae family.
Spectacled Caiman habitat
The Spectacled caiman is an adaptable species that tolerates fresh, brackish and saltwater. It prefers still waters but is present in virtually all types of lowland wetland and riverine habitats within its range.
If necessary, the Spectacle caiman will excavate a burrow and aestivate until conditions improve.
Spectacled Caiman size and appearance
Males are normally 2-2.5 meters (6.6-8.2 feet) long, while the largest reported specimen approached 3 meters (9.8 feet). The females are smaller and will normally not exceed 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) in length, although occasional females may reach a size of nearly 2 meters (6.6 feet).
The Spectacled Caiman has a bony ridge between its eyes (infra-orbital bridge), hence the name. Another ridge (a triangular one) can be seen on the upper eyelids, which are heavily ossified. The number of teeth varies from 72 to 78.
Adult Caiman crocodilus are dull olive green, while juveniles are yellow and adorned with black spots and bands on body and tail. As the caiman matures, the markings grow less and less noticeable.
The different subspecies vary in size, colour and skull shape. The social status of an individual will also affect its size by affecting its growth rate. Submissive animals grow slower than the dominant ones and are less likely to breed.
Spectacled Caiman feeding and diet
Juvenile Spectacled caimans feed on aquatic invertebrates, such as crustaceans, insects and molluscs. As they grow larger, they gradually learn to overtake bigger and bigger prey, chiefly fish, amphibians, reptiles and water birds. Large adult caimans are capable of taking midsized mammals like wild pigs. Cannibalism also occurs, especially during dry periods when other prey is scarce. Spectacled caimans can also refrain from eating anything during the dry season.
Spectacled Caiman breeding
The female Spectacled caiman attains sexual maturity when she’s 1.2 m (4 feet) long, something which normally happens at an age of 4-7 years. The males matures at a similar age, but not until they’ve reached a size of 1.4 m (4.6 feet).
Towards the end of the dry seaon (April to May), the gonads of the male caiman begins to increase in size but they will not reach their maximal size until the wet season has commenced (May to June). Courtship occurs between May and August.
A mound nest consisting of soil and vegetation is built, usually under cover but sometimes in more open environments or on floating mats of vegetation. Inside the nest, the female will deposit 14-40 (22 is the average) eggs in July or August. Sometimes, several females will share one nest.
Females stay close to their nests in order to ward off introducers but many fail and a large share of the nests is raided by predators before the eggs hatch. The habit of sharing a nest with other mothers may be a way for the female caiman to lower the risk of her eggs getting eaten since there will be more than one parent watching over the nest.
Hatching normally takes place after roughly 90 days of incubation and the hatchlings will stay close to the female for some time and follow here wherever she goes. Sometimes one female takes care of not only her own hatchlings but the hatchlings of others as well.