Black Caiman article

Black Caiman

Information sourced from Crocodiles of the world

The black caiman is the largest member of the alligator family. They are also the largest
predator of the Amazon River basin. Adult males average 4-5 meters in length. The black
caiman gets its name from its dark skin which provides camouflage during nocturnal
hunts and it is believed to help the black caiman absorb heat. The black caiman
was hunted to almost extinction from humans however the species is now making a
comeback in numbers. 

Habitat:

The black caiman lives in the Amazon River basin in shallow
freshwater and slow moving rivers, stems and lakes. They can
sometimes venture out into flooded savannah and the wetlands. Information about
the black caiman was only discovered from the 1980’s when lots of research was
carried out on these creatures. 

Diet:

Baby black caiman mostly eat small fish, frogs
, crustaceans and insects. As they grow they begin to eat
larger fish including piranhas, catfish and perch.

Adult caiman’s diet consists of fish especially piranha fish and
catfish. They also tackle birds, turtles and large mammals. Adult black
caimans have very few predators who try to attack them however the jaguar,
boa constrictors, pythons and humans are the main predators that come into the black
caimans habitat. 

Conservation:

The black caiman populations have recovered dramatically from the
low levels in the 1970’s when they were considered to be critically endangered.
Trading of black caiman leather peaked from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. In 1990 a captive
breeding and reintroduction program was initiated in Bolivia to help increase the number
of the black caiman in the wild. Populations are still threatened by habitat destruction
from deforestation along with illegal hunting of the animal.