Reptiles
Smooth-fronted Caiman
Paleosuchus trigonatus · also called Schneider's dwarf caiman
In a blackwater forest stream in Suriname, a smooth-fronted caiman lies in the shallows, its dark, bony back almost invisible among the roots.
Overview
The smooth-fronted caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus, is a Least Concern crocodilian of slow forest streams and flooded forest in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guiana Shield. Its smooth forehead, dark armour, and forest-floor nesting make it one of the most distinctive of the small caimans.
A caiman that nests on land
Unlike most crocodilians, which nest beside open water, the smooth-fronted caiman builds its mound deep in the forest, away from the river.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Smooth-fronted Caiman: common questions
How is the smooth-fronted caiman different from Cuvier's dwarf caiman?
It has a smooth, flat forehead without a bony ridge, a darker body, and grows a little larger, to around 2 metres.
Where does it nest?
The female builds a mound nest of leaf litter and soil, sometimes using termite mounds, and guards it.
Does it live in open water?
No, it lives in slow, dark forest streams and flooded forest, and can wander across the forest floor.
Where is the smooth-fronted caiman found?
It lives in slow forest streams and flooded forest in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guiana Shield.