Spectacled Caiman

Taxobox
name = Spectacled Caiman
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3

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image_width = 220px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Crocodilia
familia = Alligatoridae
genus = "Caiman"
species = "C. crocodilus"
binomial = "Caiman crocodilus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

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 adaptabilty 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 gives the appearance of a pair of spectacles.

This species has actually benefited from commercial utilisation and over-hunting of other species within its range ("Crocodylus acutus", "Cr. intermedius" and "Melanosuchus niger"), taking over habitat from which it would otherwise have been out-competed by healthy populations. The skin of "C. crocodilus" 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 mississippiensis" 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. Brazilian Pantanal, 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. 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 responsibly for the dramatic decline and probable disappearance of "Crocodylus rhombifer" from the Isle of Pines.

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 programs, 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 [Life in Cold Blood: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/lifeincoldblood/prog_summary.shtml#5 Armoured Giants] ] .

Diet

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. While it has been stated that little evidence is available to support this, C. yacare does demonstrate this particular dietary preference. In reality, it is likely that C. crocodilus is very much a generalist and adaptive predator, given its ecological success.

References

* Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
* [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_ccro.htm Crocodilian Species list from the Florida Museum of Natural History]