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Common Caiman
Caiman crocodilus
Silhouette: Berrucomons · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassCrocodylia
- FamilyAlligatoridae (Alligators and Caimans)
- GenusCaiman (Typical Caimans)
- SpeciesCaiman crocodilus (Common Caiman)
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
6 Verified sightings at São Luís
2,141 In all 23 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Common Caiman
The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the white caiman, common caiman, and speckled caiman, is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae. It is brownish-, greenish-, or yellowish-gray colored and has a spectacle-like ridge between its eyes, which is where its common name come from. It grows to a length of 1.4–2.5 m (4 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) and a weight of 7–40 kg (15–88 lb), with males being both longer and heavier than females. Its diet varies seasonally, commonly consisting of crabs, fish, small mammals, amphibians and snails. Breeding occurs from May to August and 14–40 eggs are laid in July and August. This crocodilian has a large range and population; it is native to much of Latin America, and has been introduced to the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
The spectacled caiman was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally as Lacerta crocodilus. It has since been redescribed several times, including as Caiman sclerops by Schneider in 1801. Although Caiman crocodilus is now the scientific name of the species, some scientists still prefer using sclerops, as having crocodilus as the scientific name for a caiman may cause confusion. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Caiman in São Luís
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manaus | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Valencia | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | |
| 3 | São Luís | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | Cali | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at São Luís
No species of the same family or order lives in São Luís, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Caiman in São Luís?
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman sighting in São Luís on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 8 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Caiman in São Luís?
June
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman in São Luís on a given day, against under 5% in October to May, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Common Caiman?
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Caiman sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is São Luís the best place to see a Common Caiman?
3rd of 5
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Common Caiman sightings, São Luís ranks 3rd at about 20%. The best odds are in Manaus (Brazil, about 50%) and Valencia (Venezuela, about 30%).
Where does the Common Caiman sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Caiman is recorded against all the reptiles logged in São Luís (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
