Animal Library

				Back to Library

THE CUVIER’S DWARF CAIMAN

COMMON NAMES:
Cuvier's dwarf caiman, Cuvier's smooth-fronted caiman (reflecting the lack of infra-orbital ridge found in Caiman crocodilus - leading to the suggestion that Paleosuchus ('ancient crocodile') is an older lineage, branching off from other Caiman over 30 mya), Jacaré pagua, Musky caiman

DISTRIBUTION:
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela.

ENVIRONMENT:
Freshwater forested rivers (drainages between and including the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, in addition to those in Paraguay) and flooded forests around larger lakes. Found on more open stretches of rivers and streams in Bolivia. Although it generally prefers clean, faster-flowing stretches of river, it does occur in very nutrient-poor waters in southeastern Brazil and Venezuela. Known to utilize burrows for long periods during the day and can cover large distance at night. They may be more tolerant of cooler water conditions.

STATUS:
IUCN-International Union of Conservation of Nature (Little Risk and Least Concerns) Estimated wild population: over 1,000,000
Summary: Widely distributed with healthy populations and lack of significant population pressure

APPEARANCE:
Smallest species of crocodilian, males reaching a maximum of 4-5ft (1.5 or 1.6 m), females rarely exceeding 3.5ft or (1.2 m). Heavily ossified armour on both dorsal and ventral surfaces - protection which serves to make up for its small size, perhaps, and reduces injury in more fast-flowing river habitats, as well as from obstacles and predators during fighting and terrestrial exchanges which are common in the adults. Has one of the most remarkable head shapes of any crocodilian, being short, very smooth and concave (high skull, upturned snout), with a pronounced overlapping of the lower jaw by the upper. Skull shape may reflect increased need of camouflage or blending in with it’s surroundings to ward off big snakes and Jaguars. Juveniles are brown with blank banding. Adults are darker. Head is chocolate brown, with an iris colour to match. Lower jaw is flecked with white bands.

DIET:
The diet of caimans is known to be dependent upon the habitat in which the caiman lives. Juveniles eat mainly fish whereas adults include a greater proportion of fish in their diets in addition to a variety of aquatic (e.g. crabs, molluscs, shrimps) and common fish. The short, backward-curved teeth are particularly suited to taking invertebrates such as crustaceans.

BREEDING:
Cuvier’s may be found singly or in pairs for most of the year, although no set breeding season has been noted. Females are mound-nesters, using available vegetation and mud. Size of the clutch is reported to range from from 10 to 25 eggs, and the incubation period lasts around 90 days. Although it has been noted that adults will open the nest and move the juveniles to the water, information on parental care following hatching is lacking and implies that there may be none. Newly hatched young may not enter the water until the end of their first day. Until then, they are coated with a slowly-drying, protective mucus layer. Although such a covering is present in the hatchlings of all crocodilians, it has been suggested that the drying of layer may help to reduce the growth of algae on the body of this species.

CONSERVATION:
The value of the skin of this species is not considered to be very high, given both its small size and the poor 'quality' of the belly skin. Double osteoderms are present in the ventral scales, making the skin tough and too costly to tan. Threats, therefore, come more from habitat destruction and pollution (for example, through gold mining activities). Despite the information regarding population status, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species, and further research is required in this area. It would also be useful to understand more fully the interactions between different crocodilian species, about which nothing is known for the dwarf caiman.