Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

ANIMAL:
Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus

Type of Animal:
Crocodilian

Habitat:
Rivers, streams, riverine forest, flooded forest, swamps, lagoons, rapids, flooded savanna/grassland, rainforest, ponds, marshes

Location(s):
N. & C. South America

Appearance:
Smallest crocodilian species, dark brownish-black/black coloration w/ brown, somewhat pointy head, bony scales, dome shaped skull, young animals brown w/ black bands.

Food/Diet:
Fish, crayfish, crabs, shrimp, snails, beetles, birds, small mammals, amphibians, young caimans (including own species), crickets, spiders, aquatic insects.

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding on farms, aquariums, zoos, & wildlife parks. Farmed for meat & hide.

Lifestyle:
Solitary or male-female pairs

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Bull
Female-Cow
Young-Hatchling
Group-Pair

Weight:
Male-15 lbs
Female-12 lbs
Young-5.28 oz

Gestation:
2 months

Body Length:
Male-5 ft
Female-4 ft
Young-0.9 ft

Life Span: 
Up to 40 years

Tail Length:
1-1.5 ft

Main predators of adults are jaguars, anacondas, boa constrictors, ocelots, & giant otters. Capuchins, larger caimans (including own species), & birds prey on young.

Both sexes, but especially males, very territorial & fights sometimes result in death from bite wounds.

Incubation period lasts 3 months.

Sexes of eggs determined by incubation temperature.

Sexually mature at 10 years old.

Possibly declining in wild due to hunting for meat/skin, pet trade, habitat loss, & water pollution.

Females lay 10-25 eggs

Nests often laid next to termite mounds.

While most crocodilians have yellow eyes, this species has brown eyes.

Hatching usually occurs in wet season.

Known to be fairly hardy creatures, they can live in nutrient-deficient waters.

They’re slow breeders, breeding only every 3 years.

Males roar during breeding season to ward off other males.

Sometimes use burrows as shelters during daytime.

Named after person who first described it-French zoologist Georges Cuvier.

Also called wedgehead caiman.

When threatened, they’ll inflate body to seem bigger & hiss.

Fun Fact(s):
One of most common crocodilian species in pet trade. However, they don’t make good pets due to temperament and somewhat larger size (even though they’re smallest crocodilians). In fact, no crocodilian makes a good pet.

Despite smaller size, they’re known to be very aggressive & dangerous. Many individuals are shy, avoiding people. Sharp teeth can cause immense damage, even bite from hatchling can cause bleeding.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *