| Size |
Adults can measure 4-5 feet in length. |
| Weight |
The heaviest dwarf caiman at the Philadelphia Zoo weighs about 40 lbs. |
| Conservation Status |
|
| Diet |
Dwarf caiman are carnivorous. Although the smallest of all crocodilian, dwarf caiman are very aggressive and have extremely sharp teeth. In the wild, dwarf caiman prey mostly on fish, crustaceans and small rodents. At the Zoo, the caiman are offered a variety of whole prey including fish and small rodents. |
| Geographic Range |
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela. |
| Where to find me in the Zoo |
Reptile and Amphibian House |
Note: Description below should include Longevity, Behavior, and Reproduction information
This species is the smallest New World crocodilian. Scales covering the entire body are heavily ossified. They have a very smooth and concave head shape that is unique to this species. Head is a chocolate brown and flecked with white bands. Body coloration is dark brown or black.
Longevity
Life span: 22 yrs in captivity
Behavior
Highly terrestrial and more active after dark, the dwarf caiman can be found during the day in burrows and will actively hunt at night. This species is also solitary and territorial.
Reproduction
The female caiman builds a nest of mud, twigs, grasses, and leaves and deposits on average about 12 eggs which hatch is approximately 90 days.
The Zoo has 1 male dwarf caiman and 3 of undetermined sex. The male hatched in 1988 at Albuquerque Biological Park and arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo on June 25, 2002. The other three dwarf caimans are believed wild caught, with estimated hatch in 2003. These arrived on September 7, 2006 as a donation from US Fish & Wildlife Service, after they had been confiscated.
Enrichment
Adoption Information
Featured Foster Parent
Fun Facts
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Palpebrosus means “bony eyelids”
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While most crocodilians have yellow eyes, this species has brown eyes.
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Dwarf Caimans are often distinguished by the unusual shape of their head. The skull sits very high and the snout makes an upturned curl. The structure of the skull suggests that they make use of burrows as shelter during the day.
Conservation
Introductions
Animal Lingo
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