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Spectacled caiman
Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus).jpg
In Tobago river of Trinidad & Tobago
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
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Genus:
Caiman
Species:
C. crocodilus
Binomial name
Caiman crocodilus
Schneilder, 1801
Caiman crocodylus Distribution.png
Map of caiman distribution
Synonyms

C. sclerops Schneider, 1801 C. caiman Daudin, 1802 C. alligator? Blumenbach, 1807 C. punctulatus Spix, 1825 'C. vallifrons Natterer, 1841 C. longiscuta Gray, 1862 C. multiscuta Gray, 1869 C. hirticollis Gray, 1869 C. lacordairei Borre, 1869

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), or the common caiman, is a medium sized crocodilian species that lives in the wetland areas of South America. This size of this species generally can get up to between 6 to 8.2 feet (1.8 to 2.5 m). The spectacled caiman gets its name from the bony ridge between its eyes, looking like a pair of eyeglasses. As the seasons get colder, this caiman can change colors. Spectacled caimans have been known to eat insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.

In captivity

According to ISIS, there are known to be 170 spectacled caimans in zoos.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Caimán de anteojos para niños

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