Central America Wildlife - Spectacled Caiman

The species' common name comes from a bony ridge between the eyes. It gives the appearance of a pair of spectacles. It is a crocodilian reptile. Al though they are one of the smallest crocodilian species these guys are fierce predators. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverside habitat and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh. In Guatemala it can be found in the northern department of Petn. It can be found in much of Central and South America.

They have a dull olive color. Observations show that as conditions become drier, caimans stop feeding. Cannibalism has been reported under such conditions. As adults they are capable of taking large, mammalian prey such as wild pigs. Males of the species are generally between 2 and 2.5 meters, while females are usually around 1.4 meters. They live an average of 25 - 30 years.

A favorite daytime activity for caimans is sunbathing or basking on shore. When they need to cool off, they simply sink to colder water. They can also heat up their bodies by floating in the warm, upper surface of the water. Some live where the weather is especially cold at times during the year, but none of them actually become inactive and enter a state of deep sleep. Instead, these species either lie still in shallow water or they retreat into winter burrows to wait for spring.

Caimans lay 14 - 40 eggs in mounds of soil and vegetation at the water's edge or on rafts of floating vegetation. Sometimes nests are shared by females who guard it against predators. The young caiman hatch after approximately 90 days and they stay in groups close to the female. Mating takes place near the end of the dry season May - August. Spectacled

The ecological importance of this species has been demonstrated by recycling nitrogenous that re-enters the ecosystem to the benefit of other plants and animals. Also due to the reduction in number of larger crocodilian species the Caiman expanded its range into areas formerly occupied by them.

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