The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian. It is a carnivorous reptile that lives along slow-moving rivers and lake
The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian. It is a carnivorous reptile that lives along slow-moving rivers and lakes, in the seasonally flooded savannas of the Amazon basin, and in other freshwater habitats in South America. Once common, it was hunted to near extinction primarily for its commercially valuable hide. It is now listed as Conservation Dependent. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Crocodilia Family: Alligatoridae Genus: Melanosuchus Species: M. niger Binomial name Melanosuchus niger The black caiman has a bony ridge over red eyes, and black, scaly skin. The skin coloration helps with camouflage during its nocturnal hunts, but may also help absorb heat The black caiman is one of the largest reptiles and is the largest member of the family Alligatoridae. The black caiman can grow to 5 m ( ft) long, making it the largest member of the Alligator family and the largest predator in the Amazon basin. The largest reported black caiman, measuring meters ( ft) and weighing 1,310 kg (2,870 lb), was shot in Acre, Brazil in 1965 and, which if accurate, would count as the largest crocodilian recorded besides saltwater crocodiles. Most adult black caimans are 3 to meters (10-14 feet), with old males rarely growing larger than 5 meters ( ft) They eat fish, including piranhas, catfish, and other animals, including birds, turtles, and land-dwelling animals like the capybara and deer when they come to the water to get a drink. Larger specimens can take tapirs, anacondas and is capable of predation on potentially deadly predators such as pumas and jaguars. Jaguars are a known predator of all other caiman species and juvenile Black caimans, but any caiman over 4 meters in length generally has no natural predator (given the size, weight and immense biting strength.) Their teeth are designed to grab but not rip, so they swallow their food whole after drowning it. Immature specimens eat crustaceans
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