CHOMP! Introduction to the Spectacled Caiman.

Yes! Spectacled caimans can be found in Trinidad and Tobago.

The picture above shows a Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) ambassador taken from the Reptile Conservation Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the smallest species is the Cuviers Dwarf Caiman, which can be found in small numbers in south west Trinidad.

The picture above shows a Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) ambassador taken from the Reptile Conservation Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.

They feed on birds, frogs, crustaceans, fish, and other animals. Wild caimans ambush and clamp down prey before crushing bones and flesh using their massive jaws. The reptiles have undergone minimal evolutionary change for the past 30 million years and still possess the same skills and features as their ancestors. Caimans play a vital role in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem. Ecological Value Of Caimans

Caimans are essential in maintaining the diversity and productivity of wetlands. They maintain a healthy aquatic population by eating ailing fish, thus allowing healthy ones to regenerate and grow without competition or the risk of contradicting diseases. They also regulate and prevent the dominance of a single fish species. Caiman droppings serve as nutritious food for fish.

Ecologists argue that the extinction of caimans could disrupt ecological processes and damage the ecosystem.

Wetlands in Trinidad can suffer from pollution, oil spills, flow modification, habitat degradation, invasive species, and over-exploitation. Caimans in these ecosystems can die of starvation or migrate to other regions. Conservationists began educating the local people on the importance of caimans, arguing that their excrement can act as fertilizer and food for fish.

Nature’s Garbage Disposal

Caimans and other members of the Crocodilian family have a ferocious digestive system that is immune to bacteria, viruses, and microbes. Research has revealed that the reptiles are resistant to HIV. This immunity and their ferocious eating habitats make caimans the guardians of the freshwater ecosystem. They feed on every part of a prey preventing flesh from decaying and spreading harmful infections. Caimans can recover from unimaginable injuries that would be fatal to humans and other animals. So many of these animals exist without missing legs and deep scars in their bellies Despite their resistance to natural infections, caimans are vulnerable to human activities and chemicals. They are extremely sensitive to fertilizers, pesticides, and pollutants, making them an early-warning system to excessive pollution.

FUN FACT! Caimans can lay between 20 to 60 eggs!!