Spectacled Caiman - Caiman crocodilus
Florida's Exotic Wildlife. Species detail.
First year: 1960
Extirpated year:
Established status: Populations
are confirmed breeding and apparently self-sustaining for 10 or
more consecutive years.
Estimated Florida range: 2
counties At least 10 years, 2 counties Not reported
breeding
Statewide trend: Stable
Photograph by Dr. Wayne King ©
2003
Threats to natives: Preys upon a
variety of vertebrates (Ellis 1980) and competes for food and space
with the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Species Account: The native range
of the spectacled caiman extends from southern Mexico to northern
Argentina, where it may attain lengths of over 2.4 m (8 ft). South
Florida specimens were released or escaped from the pet trade and
are typically less than 1.8 m (6 ft) long. Breeding populations
occur in localized areas of Dade and Broward counties, where they
inhabit freshwater marshes, heavily vegetated ponds and lakes, and
canals. This "small" crocodilian is secretive but is feisty when
cornered. The caiman can be differentiated from native crocodilians
by a curved bony ridge across the moderately sharp snout just in
front of the eyes. Hatchlings are banded with very dark brown on a
dark olive ground color, and the color darkens and the pattern
obscures as they grow. It is susceptible to cold weather, and its
northern expansion is limited by occasional freezes in south
Florida (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Extirpation of the caiman
population at Homestead Air Force Base, Dade County, was begun in
1977 (Ellis 1980) but caimans are still breeding there (L. J. Hord,
FFWCC, Okeechobee, personal communication). In 2001, a nest of 41
eggs was collected (39 hatched) and 2 adults were killed near the
junction of Levee No. 67A and Canal No. 123 (Holiday Park), Broward
County (L. J. Hord, personal communication).
Habitats: Lake, Freshwater river
or stream
| County |
First Year |
Extirpated Year |
Breeding status |
Notes |
| BROWARD |
1966 |
At least 10 years |
Not reported breeding by King and Krakauer (1966) but caimans
are now breeding in Broward County (L. J. Hord, FFWCC, Okeechobee,
pers. commun.) |
| DADE |
1960 |
At least 10 years |
Observed in Miami canals as early as 1960 (Ellis 1980) but
nesting first recorded in 1968 (Wilson and Porras 1983); breeding
population on the Homestead Air Force Base discovered in 1974
(Ellis 1980) |
| PALM BEACH |
1966 |
Not reported breeding |
Found as far north as Palm Beach County (King and Krakauer
1966) |
| SEMINOLE |
1970s |
Not reported breeding |
Lake Jessup (Ellis 1980) |
References
Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999. A field
guide to Florida reptiles and amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company,
Houston, Texas. 278pp.
Ellis, T. M. 1980. Caiman crocodilus: an
established exotic in south Florida. Copeia 1980:152-154.
King, F. W., and T. Krakauer. 1966. The exotic
herpetofauna of southeast Florida. Quarterly Journal of the Florida
Academy of Sciences 29:144-154.
Links to more information
Pond and Lake animal account
University of Florida Species
account
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