Black Caiman - Get an Idea on these Nocturnal Giants

Black Caiman is a Carnivores reptile, which lives along slow moving rivers and lakes of Amazon basin, fresh waters of South America, Kaw Swamps in French Guiana and on Rupununi River in Guyana

Whereas young specimens can be seen floating among grasses in the waterway. They belong to Alligatorinae subfamily and are considered to be largest among Alligators family. They measure about 6 feet length. During the period of flooding (May to July) in Amazon basin these alligators disperse to wider range, where as in dry season ie from September to December, when the water levels recede, Black Caimans are once again congregated to their permanent lakes and rivers.

It is commonly known by names like Caimán, Caimán negro, Caïman noir, Lagarto negro, Jacare Açu, Jacaré Assú, Jacare Açu, Jacare Uassu, Jaracé Una, Yacare Assu.

Physical Features of Black Caiman

Black Caiman have black and scaly skin with spines and bony ridge over red eyes. Skin coloration helps to absorb heat and assists in camouflage during nocturnal hunts. They have 75 long, sharp, conical teeth which are used for catching prey and tearing it apart making them easy to swallow. They have gray or brown banding on the lower jaw and white or yellowish bands on sides of their body.

Black Caiman have long and strong legs to make them run very fast, and with the powerful neck, they can catch their prey in a lightening speed. They can even overturn boat. When threatened, they will not hesitate to bite anything that comes in their way. They can camouflage in the water in such a way that it becomes difficult for enemies to see them.

They have big black eyes and two holes as ears are not developed. They have two nostrils on top of the upper jaw with the help of which they can detect blood even from a long distance. They have long nails and 4 fingers on each paw.

Their thick long tail measures about 40 percent of their total size and helps him to make faster movements in water. The biggest black Caiman measures 10 meters and weighs more than one and a half ton. It is easy to identify them with Black caiman description as the size of Balck caiman is small when compared with other crocodiles.

What does the Black Caiman eat?

As Juveniles, these black Caimans love to eat small vertebrates and insects. At later stages they switch their diet to large fishes such as catfish and piranha. He also eats poisonous snakes like anacondas, mammals like dear jaguars and buffalo, but he prefers capybara, which are very tasty and also likes to have red meat with lot of blood, which refreshes them. They are man-eaters. In a number of cases small children and women washing clothes in the shore of the river have become the prey to these animals. After eating a dear they can stay without eating for 3 to 4 days.

Continue to: Know More On Black Caiman

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Black Caiman - Get an Idea on these Nocturnal Giants

Physical Features of Black Caiman

What does the Black Caiman eat?

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