Common Caiman
Common CaimanCommon CaimanCommon CaimanCommon Caiman

Common Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Silhouette: Berrucomons · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
1 Verified sightings at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve From 2019 to 2026
2,093 Verified sightings across all 40 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~80%
2 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~70%
3 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~60%
4 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~50%
5 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~50%
6 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~40%
7 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
8 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~40%
9 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
10 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
11 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~30%
12 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
13 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
14 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~30%
15 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~30%
16 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~20%
17 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
18 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
19 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~20%
20 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~20%
21 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
22 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
23 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
24 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
25 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
26 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
27 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
28 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
29 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
30 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data
31 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
32 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
33 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
34 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
35 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
36 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
38 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
39 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
40 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
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