What type of animal is a cayman?

caiman, also spelled cayman, any of several species of Central and South American reptiles that are related to alligators and are usually placed with them in the family Alligatoridae. Caimans, like all other members of the order Crocodylia (or Crocodilia), are amphibious carnivores.

1. Is a caiman a crocodile or alligator?
2. Is a caiman a reptile?
3. Are caimans good pets?
4. What's the difference between caiman and alligators?
5. Can caiman mate with alligators?
6. Do caimans eat humans?
7. Do caimans eat anacondas?
8. What are the small alligators called?
9. How old do caimans live?
10. Are caimans aggressive?
11. How much do caimans cost?
12. Where are caiman found?
13. Are caimans bigger than crocodiles?
14. How big do caimans get?
15. How big are dwarf caimans?

Is a caiman a crocodile or alligator?

Caimans belong to the same family as the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis); they're more distantly related to crocodiles, which belong to a separate family under the order Crocodylia.

Is a caiman a reptile?

The black caiman is found in the Amazon River basin. This aquatic reptile occurs in shallow, freshwater habitats such as slow-moving rivers, streams and lakes, and ventures into flooded savannah and wetlands. ... There is still much to learn about the black caiman.

Are caimans good pets?

While caimans, or any other crocodilians, do not make good pets, there are some sizable lizards that can. Bear in mind, however, that any reptile is a long-term and often expensive commitment, not a creature to be acquired on impulse. In the case of the larger lizards, you will need a huge tank.

What's the difference between caiman and alligators?

While the alligator has a small overbite, conical teeth, and the inside of its mouth is beige in color, the caiman has a very large upper jaw with a mouth that includes many sharp, long, and narrow teeth and an interior that is orangish in hue. Caimans also have larger and higher set eyes than alligators.

Can caiman mate with alligators?

Can a Alligator and a Caiman Mate? Though they look similar, alligators and caimans are distinct species. In nature, they would never come into contact with one another to mate. They are too different genetically to produce viable offspring.

Do caimans eat humans?

Black caimans have a broad diet, feeding on fish and other reptiles as well as rodents such as the capybara (which can grow as large as 4 feet [1.25 meters] long). Adult male black caimans often grow longer than 13 feet (about 4 meters); larger specimens have been known to attack people.

Do caimans eat anacondas?

Small Anacondas and Babies

As a result, other predators, such as birds, jaguars, other jungle cats and caimans may prey on young snakes until they are a few years old, when they are large enough to deter the predators themselves. ... Larger green anacondas have also been known to kill and eat juveniles.

What are the small alligators called?

A caiman (also cayman as a variant spelling) is an alligatorid belonging to the subfamily Caimaninae, one of two primary lineages within Alligatoridae, the other being alligators.

How old do caimans live?

Though somewhat undetermined, current estimates place caimans' life expectancy at 30-40 years. It should be noted, however, that larger crocodilians have been documented with lifespans of 70-90 years. Some accounts allow for crocodilian lifespans in excess of 100 years.

Are caimans aggressive?

Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus & subspecies)

However, they are perhaps not the best captives. Adult males can grow from 2 to 2.5 metres (6.5 to 8 feet) in total length in 10 to 15 years and they have a reputation for being particularly aggressive.

How much do caimans cost?

The cost of a dwarf or smooth-fronted caiman will vary. As a guide, in the UK, a baby Paleosuchus will set you back about £350 (about US $500). A larger one is about £600. In the US, the babies seem to be advertised for about $250 - $350.

Where are caiman found?

Caiman are native to Central and South America, and their distribution in Florida will probably remain confined to south Florida because they cannot tolerate cold temperatures.

Are caimans bigger than crocodiles?

However, crocodiles are usually the largest when it comes to overall size. A salt water crocodile can grow to sizes over 23 feet and weigh up to 2,200 pounds… now that's a big reptile! ... They are the largest caiman species in the world at over 20 feet long!

How big do caimans get?

The largest of these species is the black caiman, a potentially dangerous animal attaining a maximum length of about 4.5 metres (15 feet). The other species normally attain lengths of about 1.2–2.1 metres, with a maximum of about 2.7 metres in the spectacled caiman. Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger).

How big are dwarf caimans?

The dwarf caiman is the smallest member of the crocodilian family, growing to be about four to five feet in length.