Range

South America is the native home of the black caiman. Here they can be found in the following countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana and Peru. The origin of the population in Venezuela and its current status is uncertain.

Habitat

Slow-moving rivers, streams and lakes within savanna and wetlands are the native home of the black caiman.

Reproduction

Nesting takes place during the dry season from September through December.

The nest is a mound and the female uses her hind legs to dig the egg chamber. Females deposit between 30 and 65 eggs in to the nest.

Most females will defend their eggs and may provide some care for the hatchlings once they emerge from their eggs. Incubation lasts between two and three months with the variance being attributed to nest temperature.

The eggs face a number of threats including predation and flooding of the nest.

Groups of hatchlings will form and are known as pods. These may be siblings or from multiple nests.

Behavior

Most of their day is spent in the water. At night they may come ashore. Nesting and basking occur on the shoreline.

Predators and Threats

Adults are generally considered the apex predator in their environment but may be consumed by jaguars and large snakes such as the anaconda.

This species was driven to extinction across much of its range as they are prized for their skin. They retain their bright coloration in to adulthood. It is thought that over 90% of the population may have been hunted over the past 100 years.

Quick facts

The black caiman is the largest member of the alligator family.