Automatically translated. This page was translated automatically from German and has not been reviewed by our editors.Show original
Reptiles
Spectacled caiman
Spectacled caiman · Caiman crocodilus
You can recognise spectacled caimans by the distinctive bony bridge above their eyes and their calm silhouettes along the edges of waterways.
Fact file
- Size
- 1.5 to 2.5 metres long, usually weighing 30 to 60 kilograms
- Males and females
- Males usually larger; hard to tell apart by appearance
- Sounds
- Young animals make high-pitched chirping sounds, adults are rather quiet
- Diet
- Mainly fish, occasionally insects, crustaceans and amphibians
- Offspring
- 20 to 40 young per clutch, nest building in the rainy season
How to identify Spectacled caiman
The spectacled caiman has an olive green to brown colour with darker, often marbled spots on its back and flanks. Characteristic is the bony ridge between the eyes, which looks like spectacles and gives it its name.
At a length of 1.5 to 2.5 metres and with a slim, muscular body, the spectacled caiman is clearly smaller than related crocodile species. The eyes sit high on the skull and the tail is powerful and flattened. Small individuals are often confused with juvenile Paraguay caimans, but the striking ‘spectacles’ above the eyes are a reliable distinguishing feature.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 2 places where you can see Spectacled caiman
Where Spectacled caiman live
Discover Spectacled caiman on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
