How fast do caimans grow

What is a crocodilian? How many species of crocodilian are there? Where do crocodilians live in the wild? How large do crocodilians get?

How fast do crocodilians grow? How long do crocodilians live? Juvenile American alligator Alligator mississippiensis Juvenile Cuvier's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus Adult male saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus Adult Indian gharial Gavialis gangeticus. A crocodilian is any one of 23 species of large, carnivorous, semi-aquatic reptiles that live primarily in tropical and semi-tropical environments.

Although the taxonomy varies, there are three families of crocodilians: alligatoridae alligators and caimans , crocodylidae "true crocodiles" and gavialidae gharial.

Alligators are often described as relatively docile, but that description is misleading and temperament is highly docile. Many individuals remain boisterous and, at larger sizes, very difficult to handle.

They are not recommended for those without experience. Captive farming is big business, and hence hatchlings are commonly made available to the pet trade.

Cute baby alligators have been popular as unusual pets for many years, yet in virtually all cases the owners end up disposing of their gator when it starts to exceed their ability to keep it.

American alligators are a fairly large and fast growing species - on average if given the right conditions, temperature and space, they increase in length by around 50 cm 1. Farm raised gators, fed intensively, can attain higher growth rates e.

After hatching, the parents may excavate the juveniles from the nest and help them out of the eggshell. Once emerged, juveniles stay near their parents for approximately 1. After copulation, females, sometimes assisted by males, build a nest out of leaf litter. Females lay their eggs in the nest and then cover it with more leaf litter. Females, and occasionally males, guard the nest from predators until they hear the babies call with grunt-like squeaks.

Females then help uncover eggs and break the shells open to get the juveniles out. At that point, juveniles stay near their mother, and sometimes within the male parent's territory, for around 1. The parents may incidentally provide some food scraps for the juveniles but, for the most part, juvenile caimans catch food for themselves. After about 1. In some situations, young caimans remain closer to their parents for longer periods. There is very little known about the lifespan of Caiman crocodilus.

The longest known lifespan in the wild was estimated at about 60 years old. However, 30 to 40 years might be more normal. The average captive lifespan is 20 years, with a minimum record of 24 years.

Britton, b ; Mertz, Spectacled caimans live in loose-knit groups but are generally solitary except during mating season. They stay in the same territory and remain immobile for most of the day. During the heat of mid-day they stay submerged, morning to early afternoon they bask on the shore.

They are able to rapidly respond to certain situations like catching prey. Spectacled caimans typically feed at night. During mating season, they become territorial and aggressive. Social rank is determined by size, with larger animals being more dominant.

Animals with higher social rank tend to have more mating chances during mating season. Ojasti, Home ranges are not large and spectacled caimans generally stay in their home ranges throughout the year. Home range size varies with the structure and richness of the habitat. Kohler, ; Ojasti, ; Ross, Spectacled caimans use taste, touch, sound, and visual senses for social and reproductive communication. The ability to detect vibrations in the water may aid in prey detection. Britton, a ; Britton, b ; Ojasti, Spectacled caimans are carnivorous generalists.

Prey items change as they grow from smaller to larger caimans. Prey can include insects, snails, shrimp, crabs, fish, lizards, snakes, turtles, birds, and mammals. Spectacled caimans have at least prey items reported in their diet. Cannibalism can occur, especially under drought conditions, when many caimans of different sizes are concentrated in small areas.

However this species can be surprisingly unaggressive and tolerant of temporarily dense concentrations during the dry season. Mertz, ; Ross, ; University of Southern Mississippi, During nesting time, tegu lizards Tupinambis sp.

Coatis Nasua narica and foxes also raid nests. Juveniles are eaten by large fish, wading birds, large snakes, and other crocodilians. Adult spectacled caimans are able to defend themselves from most potential predators, except humans. Bartlett and Bartlett, ; Britton, a. Spectacled caimans are predators of aquatic invertebrates, fish, and other aquatic and shoreline vertebrates.

In their native range they are important members of riparian shoreline and aquatic communities. Where spectacled caimans have been introduced outside of their normal range, spectacled caimans may have unpredictable, perhaps deleterious effects on prey species.

Bartlett and Bartlett, ; Grana Raffucci, Within their native range, spectacled caimans are usually the most abundant crocodiles and are the most heavily harvested species by humans for the hide industry. Britton, a ; Grana Raffucci, ; Ross, Spectacled caimans are potentially dangerous to humans and pets, and they occasionally attack livestock.

Their smaller size compared to other crocodilians makes them less of a threat. They become shy and avoid humans in areas where they are frequently hunted. Spectacled caimans have been introduced outside their natural range, such as in southern Florida, and possible negative effects on local naive wildlife are in need of study.