Caiman is a large aquatic reptile found in the swamps and tropical rivers that cover Central and South America. Although the caimans have much narrower bodies, they are most closely related to alligators and crocodiles. Caimans are found in a variety of habitats throughout Central and South America from marshes and swamps to mangrove rivers and lakes. As with other reptiles, caimans have scaly skin and live a fairly nocturnal existence.
Caimans range in size from the dwarf caiman which measures just over a meter in length, to the black caiman which can to grow to be nearly 5 meters long. The black caiman is the largest caiman species in the world and is found in the slow-moving rivers and lakes that surround the Amazon basin. The Caimans look very much like Alligators, however they are generally smaller in size and weight. The smallest of the caiman species is the Cuvier’s dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), it will grow to 1.5 m (5 ft).
Caiman
Caiman
Caiman
Caiman
Caiman
