Head to head
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman vs Smooth-fronted Caiman
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman
VS Smooth-fronted Caiman
Cuvier's dwarf caiman and the smooth-fronted caiman are the two dwarf caimans in the genus Paleosuchus, small, heavily armoured crocodilians of South American forests.
| Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman | Smooth-fronted Caiman | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Paleosuchus palpebrosus | Paleosuchus trigonatus |
| Size | The smallest living crocodilian, with males around 1.5 metres long and females smaller | Grows to around 2 metres, a little larger than Cuvier's dwarf caiman |
| Forehead | A short, high, domed snout with a bony ridge between the eyes, and dark eyes | A smooth, flat forehead without the bony ridge, and a dark, nearly black body |
| Armour | Thick bony plates on the back and belly, which protect it from predators such as jaguars and anacondas | Thick bony plates on the back and belly, which protect it from predators |
| Habitat | Prefers fast-flowing rainforest streams and rocky rivers over still lakes | Lives in slow, dark forest streams and flooded forest, and can wander across the forest floor |
| Behaviour | Shy and mostly nocturnal, spending the day in burrows or under overhanging banks | The female builds a mound nest of leaf litter and soil on land, sometimes using termite mounds, and guards it |
| Range | The Amazon and Orinoco basins, the Pantanal, and parts of the Paraguay and Parana rivers | The Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guiana Shield |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though forest loss and gold-mining pollution affect local populations | Least Concern, though forest loss and gold-mining pollution affect local populations |
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman vs Smooth-fronted Caiman: common questions
Which dwarf caiman is smaller?
Cuvier's dwarf caiman, which is the smallest living crocodilian, with males around 1.5 metres long.
How can you tell them apart?
Cuvier's dwarf caiman has a domed snout with a bony ridge between the eyes, while the smooth-fronted caiman has a flat, smooth forehead.
Which one nests on the forest floor?
The smooth-fronted caiman, whose female builds a mound nest of leaf litter and soil, sometimes using termite mounds.