Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

Paleosuchus palpebrosus

Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

Paleosuchus palpebrosus

Other Common Names
Dwarf caiman, musky caiman, Cuvier’s caiman, wedge-head caiman, smooth-fronted caiman (shares this name with p. trigonatus).

Amazon Basin

Other Common Names

Dwarf caiman, musky caiman, Cuvier’s caiman, wedge-head caiman, smooth-fronted caiman (shares this name with p. trigonatus).

At the Aquarium

Amazon Basin

Appearance

Their bodies are a reddish-brown color, with yellow-brown eyes.

Habitat

They live in forests, flooded forests, and near freshwater regions of rivers and streams.

Diet

Their diet varies depending on what is available in their region, but typically will feed on a variety of fish, amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, or invertebrates. They are nocturnal, and typically will eat their prey whole.

Life History

They typically live up to 40 years old in the wild, and can live up to 60 years old in captivity. Dwarf caimans typically will lay a clutch of eggs only once a year, with up to 25 eggs in a clutch. Dwarf caiman are mound nesters, meaning the nest will be buried by the mother. The eggs will usually take around 3 months to hatch, at which point the mother will ‘open’ up the nest to allow exit.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

They are seen as a keystone species within their ecosystems. Without them, other species like piranhas would spike in population, while others like various birds or other reptiles would lose a food source.

Found throughout northern and central South America.

This animal is not found on the Oregon Coast. It can be found at the Oregon Coast Aquarium as part of our temporary exhibit Amazon Basin: Adventure for the Senses.

The Aquarium’s dwarf caiman is named Roc! They are the smallest of the alligator family

Citations & Other Resources

Choi, H. (2004). “Paleosuchus palpebrosus: Dwarf caiman, Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman”. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
Campos, Z.; Sanaiotti, T.; Muniz, F.; Farias, I.; Magnusson, W.E. (December 2012). “Parental care in the dwarf caiman, Paleosuchus palpebrosus Cuvier, 1807 (Reptilia: Crocodilia: Alligatoridae)”. Journal of Natural History. 46 (47–48): 2979–2984. Bibcode:2012JNatH..46.2979C. doi:10.1080/00222933.2012.724723. ISSN 0022-2933.

Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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