Reptiles
Broad-snouted Caiman
Caiman latirostris
In a flooded marsh in northern Argentina, a broad-snouted caiman lies with only its eyes and nostrils above the water, waiting for a snail-laden current to drift past.
Overview
The broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, is a Least Concern crocodilian of swamps, marshes, lagoons, and flooded grassland in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. Its broad snout, snail-crushing bite, and role in a sustainable-use programme make it one of the best-known caimans of the south.
A caiman that eats snails
The wide, short snout of this caiman gives it a powerful crushing bite, perfect for cracking the shells of the snails that make up much of its diet.
Status
Least Concern, recovering after heavy hunting.
Broad-snouted Caiman: common questions
Why is it called the broad-snouted caiman?
It is named for its wide, short snout, the broadest relative to its length of any caiman.
What does the broad-snouted caiman eat?
It eats snails and other molluscs, crustaceans, fish, and occasionally small mammals and birds.
What decides the sex of the hatchlings?
The temperature at which the eggs are incubated in the nest.
Where is the broad-snouted caiman found?
It lives in swamps, marshes, lagoons, and flooded grassland in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia.