Caiman
Subfamily: Caimaninae
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Caiman are in the same family as alligators but differ by lack of a bony septum between the nostrils. They differ further by being more crocodilian in movement and have longer and sharper teeth than their alligator relatives. Spectacled Caiman, identified by a ridge infront of their eyes and characteristic black bands along the tail, are the most common and have the largest range whereas the black caiman are the largest, growing to 6 metres. The black caiman is one of the two species in the alligator family posing the same threat to humans as large crocodiles. Like the jaguar or harpy eagle, the black caiman is a top predator in the Amazon Basin. They are ambush predators, utilising the same techniques that worked for their ancestors 200 million years previous. They lay in wait for an animal to approach the water then lunge forward grabbing the prey. They then retreat to the water to drown the unfortunate animal. Black caiman were hunted severely for their skin, which reduced populations by 99%. Because of this, black caiman are now restricted to only a few areas of the Amazon Basin.
