Description The smooth-fronted caiman, also known as Schneider's dwarf caiman or Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman, is a crocodilian from South America, where it is native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. Some heat is generated by the decaying vegetation and good insulation helps to retain this. During incubation, roots may grow through the nest, and soil from the termite mound may cement the eggs together. Firstly a crocodilian may not be the first animal you think of to keep in your home, word of that can have a downside as most people remember watching crocodiles pulling huge animals into water and eating them as well as watching television programs where documentaries contain stories of man killers. Jacaretinga trigonatus (Vaillant, 1898) Paleosuchus niloticus (Muller, 1924) Crocodylus niloticus (Werner, 1933) The Central African slender-snouted crocodile (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smooth-fronted_caiman&oldid=884863469, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, A smooth-fronted caiman at Anaxiqui River in Brazil, Smooth-fronted caiman distribution (green), This page was last edited on 24 February 2019, at 14:27. Males grow to about 1.7 to 2.3 m (5 ft 7 in to 7 ft 7 in) long, with the largest recorded specimen being 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in). It is the second smallest member of the family Alligatoridae. Try browsing the Crocodilians Index if you're looking for something specific. This refers to the belief that this crocodile comes from an ancient lineage that diverged from other species of caimans some 30 million years ago. The genus name 'Paleosuchus' is derived from the Greek and roughly translates as 'ancient crocodile'. The incubation period is about 115 days and the female caiman remains near the nest for at least the earlier part of this time, providing protection against predators. A larger one is about £600. The cost of a dwarf or smooth-fronted caiman will vary. [3][4], The smooth-fronted caiman is native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America and is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The smooth-fronted caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus), also known as Schneider's dwarf caiman or Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman,[2] is a crocodilian from South America, where it is native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. It inhabits small streams in forested areas where in some cases, the water may be insufficiently deep for it to completely submerge itself. This means parental assistance is necessary when the eggs hatch to enable the hatchlings to escape from the nest chamber. Females do not often exceed 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in). (2016). Other common names for this species include the musky caiman, the dwarf caiman, Cuvier's caiman, and the smooth-fronted caiman (the latter name is also used for P. trigonatus). The smooth-fronted caiman is native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America and is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Out of stock Notify me when item is . It has heavily ossified body armour on both its dorsal and ventral surfaces. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES which is designed to limit overexploitation through international trade. While Greek word trigonos means three-cornered, the Latin atus mean “provided with”. While Greek word trigonos means three-cornered, the Latin atus mean “provided with”. Smooth-fronted Caiman are also the second smallest crocodilian species and they are between 1.4 and 2.3 m (4.6 - 7.5 ft) in length. [4][5], The adult smooth-fronted caiman has cryptic habits and is seldom observed by day because it hides in underwater burrows or may spend much of its time up to 100 m (330 ft) away from water, concealed in dense undergrowth, in hollow logs, or under fallen trees. It is a robust crocodilian, strong for its size, and tends to carry its head high with its neck angled upwards. It is suggested that Cuvier's dwarf caimans are one of the world’s most abundant crocodylians. During a night hike at the Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve we found this little caiman. Guiana, Orinoco Basins, and Amazon, Aquatic insects, reptiles, birds, small fish. Find the perfect smooth fronted caiman stock photo. The specific name trigonatus is derived from the Greek trigonos meaning "three-cornered" and Latin atus meaning "provided with" and refers to the triangular shape of the head. In the US, the babies seem to be advertised for about $ The female may miss a year before breeding again. 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