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496 Featured Specimen
Black caiman

Details

Black caiman

Melanosuchus niger

Size
3–5 m · 200–450 kg
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan
50–80 years

The black caiman is a large crocodilian of the Amazon basin. Its dark color blends with night water as it hunts prey from fish to large animals.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
NeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It inhabits Neotropical freshwater and savanna wetlands. Large rivers, lakes, flooded forest, and deep wetlands are key habitats.

Appearance

Length 300-500 cm; weight 200-450 kg. The body is dark with pale crossbands, and the head is large and robust. A powerful tail drives swimming.

Behavior

Nocturnal and solitary, it waits quietly at the surface. Large adults can range over broad waterways.

Feeding

A carnivore, it eats fish, turtles, birds, and mammals. Powerful jaws seize prey and pull it into water.

Reproduction

Females build nests, lay eggs, and guard the nest and young. Hatchlings use shallow waters after emergence.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern. Heavy past hunting reduced some populations, but protection has allowed recovery in parts of its range.