Spectacled Caiman
Caiman crocodilus
CrocodiliansExpert
A small crocodilian from South America with a ridge across its face.
🌍 Where it lives
Rivers, lakes and wetlands in Central and South America.
🍽️ What it eats
Fish, insects and small animals.
📏 How big it gets
Usually 1.5 to 2 metres long — about as long as a grown-up is tall.
🔎 How to spot it
Look for the bony ridge between the eyes that looks like a pair of glasses, and watch for it basking quietly at the edge of rivers and ponds.
3 fun facts
- The 'spectacles' are a bone ridge, not real glasses.
- It is much smaller than a crocodile.
- Babies call to their mother with squeaks.
