The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

Feb 21, 2010 Features / Columnists, Interesting Creatures in Guyana

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The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh; due in part to this adaptability it is the most common of all crocodilian species.
Males of the species are generally between 2 and 2.5 meters, while females are smaller, usually around 1.4 meters. The species common name comes from a bony ridge between the eyes, which give the appearance of a pair of spectacles.
This species has actually benefited from commercial utilisation and over-hunting of other species within its range taking over habitat from which it would otherwise have been out-competed by healthy populations. The skin of this creature is not ideally suited to tanning, as the ventral scales contain well-developed osteoderms. Only the lateral flanks provide skin of an acceptable quality for tanning.
Hunting pressures remained relatively low, therefore, until populations of the sympatric crocodilian species became depleted in the 1950s, when hunting of C. crocodilus intensified. The numbers of caimans harvested since then has been huge, and they currently supply the vast majority of the hide market in America. Leather from this species is often passed off as Alligator or other species.
Despite pressure from hunting and also collection for the pet trade, however, existing surveys suggest that populations are in relatively good condition in most areas (e.g. Venezuela). This seems to reflect the adaptability of the species, its reproductive potential, and the increase in available habitat through the removal of competing species and an increase in man-made water bodies (e.g. Colombia, Venezuela).
However, it is these factors which make it difficult to determine the overall status of the species, as populations are faring less well in other areas—surveys reveal severe depletion in El Salvador. Despite being commonly mistaken as this species, the incredibly large population of caiman living within the Brazilian Pantanal are in fact a separate species, the Yacare Caiman. More up-to-date surveys are required for clarification, and to examine the interactions between the different subspecies.
Further taxonomic work would make control measures easier to implement, as currently identification of different subspecies can be difficult. The major threat to this species and its subspecies is currently illegal hunting. Smuggling rings operating through Thailand and Singapore are extremely damaging to individual populations, and greater control measures and more effective legislation are needed.
The subspecies C. c. apaporiensis is under severe threat in Colombia. Feral populations of C. crocodilus are creating problems for other species of crocodilians and native wildlife, however. These populations have become established in three countries. The introduced population in Cuba is thought to have been primarily responsible for the dramatic decline and probable disappearance of Crocodylus rhombifer from the Isla de la Juventud.
Sustainable use programs are well developed in several countries. Most of these rely upon regular cropping of wild populations. The long-term effects of this cropping need to be investigated. The reproductive potential of this species makes properly controlled sustainable yield programs look promising. Farming and ranching programmes, while they exist, may be uneconomical in the long run, given the value of the hide and the number of animals which need to be culled in order to produce a profitable amount of hide.
Spectacled caiman have strongly protective maternal behaviour. They raise their young in creches, one female taking care of her own as well as several others’ offspring.
Juveniles take a variety of aquatic invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, mollusks). As they grow, various vertebrates take up a greater percentage of the diet. These include fish, amphibians, reptiles, and water birds. Older animals are capable of taking larger, mammalian prey (e.g. wild pigs).
Observations show that as conditions become drier, caimans stop feeding. Cannibalism has been reported under such conditions. The ecological importance of this species has been demonstrated in terms of nutrient recycling—nitrogenous waste re-enters the ecosystem to the benefit of other plants and animals.
In areas where this species has become depleted, fish populations have also shown a decline. They are also reputed to control piranha numbers. In reality, it is likely that C. crocodilus is very much a generalist and adaptive predator, given its ecological success. They are virtually harmless to humans, although they may bite if harassed.

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