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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 >90%
496 Verified sightings at Tortuguero National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,141 In all 23 parks
August 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 Tortuguero National Park
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 Tortuguero National Park
No species of the same family or order lives in Tortuguero National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Caiman in Tortuguero National Park?
Very likely
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman sighting in Tortuguero National Park on a given day, based on 496 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 34 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Caiman in Tortuguero National Park?
August
In that month about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman in Tortuguero National Park on a given day, against about 70% in May, the lowest month.
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 Tortuguero National Park the best place to see a Common Caiman?
Yes
Of the 23 parks where we can rate Common Caiman sightings, Tortuguero National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Piedras Blancas National Park (Costa Rica, about 60%) and Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (Panama, about 50%). All parks ranked.
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 Tortuguero National Park (496 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
