Spanish Name: Caiman Negro

Size: It can grow to about 20 feet.

Life span: 40-50 years.  Some of them can reach 80 years.

For more information see:
 

• Report written by Felipe
• Report written by Mateo
• Revised by: Alejandro
• Revised by: Yazan
  

Predators: Jaguars, anacondas, and man.
 

Adaptations: Their bony backs protect them from other animals, by the way that they are very tough. 
They have adapted to eating different quantities of food according to how much food is available.
The black caiman's black color its skin helps the caiman maintains its body temperature because the color.
 

Habitat: The black caiman is found in various freshwater habitats, such as slow moving rivers, streams, lakes and flooded savannah and wet lands.  Although it has to live with a large range of other species caimans in South America, it appears to occupy different habitat niches.

Breeding: During the dry season the female caiman builds a mound nest that is about 1.5 meters in diameter.  In here 30-65 (50-60 being the normal range) eggs are laid in here.  Nests can be found in both, in concealed and in opened areas.  During the breeding period the female will always be near the nest.  When the eggs are ready to hatch, the female opens the nest and will assist in the hatching process.  Hatching occurs between 42 and 92 days, conciding with the beginning of the wet season.  Because the female stays near the nests, the number of hatching can be high.

Interesting Facts: 

• Males and females mate in the water.

• When females are pregnant, they will not eat until their eggs have hatched.

• The normal life span of a Black Caiman is 40-50 years, and it can sometimes reach up to 80 years.

• Adult Black Caimans eat their child if there is no more food in the area.

• Black Caimans can attack humans if they enter their territory.

• They live in freshwater rivers and shallow forest streams.

• The female caimans start constructing their nests out of any vegetation and mud.

 Bibliography:

www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/reptiles/caiman/Blackcaiman.shtml

http://www.goldenhilltravel.co.uk/peru/images/caiman%5B1%5D.jpg

www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csp_mnigh.htm