Spectacled caiman

You might get the worst scare of your life if you see the crimson glow in the eyes of these creatures at night

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The adult caiman is a large aquatic reptile that ranges in color from drab olive to almost black with yellow or black crossbands. The bony bridge connecting the spectacled caimans’ eyes gives them their name.

They spend much of the day stationary and underwater and typically hunt at night. They will tan on the coast in the morning and early afternoon. They stay within the same region.

Because they are carnivorous, spectacled caimans vary in size as their food does. Insects, snails, crabs, shrimp, fish, lizards, snakes, turtles, mammals, and birds will all be consumed by them. When several caimans of different sizes are gathered in close proximity in confined spaces, cannibalism may occur, particularly during dry circumstances.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Belize
2016
Presence Uncertain
Bolivia
2016
Presence Uncertain
Brazil
2016
Colombia
2016
Costa Rica
2016
Cuba
2016
Introduced
Ecuador
2016
El Salvador
2016
French Guiana
2016
Guatemala
2016
Guyana
2016
Honduras
2016
Mexico
2016
Nicaragua
2016
Panama
2016
Peru
2016
Puerto Rico
2016
Introduced
Suriname
2016
Trinidad & Tobago
2016
United States
2016
Introduced
Venezuela
2016

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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