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    Black caiman

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    There are a lot of big reptiles, but these caimans are a class of their own!

    Rigelus

    Black Caimans are widely distributed throughout Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. It is an apex predator in the Amazon and has earned the tag of the largest predator of the Amazon. These carnivorous reptiles live along slow-moving rivers, lakes, and seasonally flooded savannas. They can grow to sizes of at least 5m (16 ft).

    Black caimans are now classified as a species of Least Concern status, but it wasn’t always like that. Black caimans used to be excessively hunted and killed for their scales, which were used in fashion. Up to 99 percent of black caimans were once killed, but intense conservation efforts brought them back from the verge of extinction.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Bolivia
    2000
    Brazil
    2000
    Colombia
    2000
    Ecuador
    2000
    French Guiana
    2000
    Guyana
    2000
    Peru
    2000
    Venezuela
    2000
    Presence Uncertain, Origin Uncertain

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    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    (IUCN)
    World Population >1,000,000
    Added by BioDB
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    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Melanosuchus niger

    Physical traits

    Length: 4 m (13 ft) Weight: 363 kg (800 pounds) Lifespan: 30 – 40 years Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph) Offspring: hatchling Incubation: 2 – 3 months Eggs: 10 – 50 eggs
    Habitats: Forest Fresh water Rivers
    Regions: South America
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