Caiman

Caimans Temporal range: Paleocene–Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Possible Maastrichtian origin if Late Cretaceous taxa are included[1]
Yacare caiman, Caiman yacare
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauromorpha
Clade:	Archosauriformes
Order:	Crocodilia
Family:	Alligatoridae
Subfamily:	Caimaninae Brochu, 1999
Type genus
Caiman Spix, 1825
Subgroups
†Bottosaurus †Chinatichampsus †Culebrasuchus †Eocaiman †Globidentosuchus †Gnatusuchus †Kuttanacaiman †Mourasuchus †Necrosuchus †Orthogenysuchus Paleosuchus †Paranacaiman †Paranasuchus †Protocaiman †Tsoabichi †Brachychampsini Cossette & Tarailo, 2024[2] †Albertochampsa †Brachychampsa †Chrysochampsa †Stangerochampsa Jacarea Norell, 1988 Caiman Melanosuchus †Acresuchus †Centenariosuchus †Necrosuchus †Purussaurus

A caiman (/ˈkeɪmən/ (also spelled cayman^[3]) from Taíno kaiman^{[4][additional citation(s) needed]}) is an alligatorid belonging to the subfamily Caimaninae, one of two primary lineages within the Alligatoridae family, the other being alligators. Caimans are native to Central and South America and inhabit marshes, swamps, lakes, and mangrove rivers. They have scaly skin and live a fairly nocturnal existence. They are relatively small-sized crocodilians with an average maximum weight of 6 to 40 kg (13 to 88 lb) depending on species, with the exception of the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), which can grow more than 4 m (13 ft) in length and weigh in excess of 450 kg (1,000 Ib). The black caiman is the largest caiman species in the world and is found in the slow-moving rivers and lakes that surround the Amazon basin. The smallest species is the Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), which grows to 1.2 to 1.5 m (3.9 to 4.9 ft) long. There are six different species of caiman found throughout the watery jungle habitats of Central and Southern America. The average length for most of the other caiman species is about 2 to 2.5 m (6.6 to 8.2 ft) long.

Caimans are distinguished from alligators, their closest relatives, by a few defining features: a lack of a bony septum between the nostrils, ventral armor composed of overlapping bony scutes formed from two parts united by a suture, and longer and sharper teeth than alligators, plus caimans tend to be more agile and crocodile-like in their movements.^[5] The calcium rivets on caiman scales make their hides stiffer.

Several extinct forms are known, including Purussaurus, a giant Miocene genus that grew to 12 m (39 ft) and the equally large Mourasuchus, which had a wide duck-like snout.^[6]