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Ecology of Caiman crocodilus
 
Main Ref. Schaller, G.B. and P.G. Crawshaw Jr., 1982
Remarks Found in mangroves (Ref. 83945). In terms of frequency and bulk food items of this species are in this order: fish, snails, crabs and insects, with fish being the most important food item. Caimans wait for fish to be within snapping distance, using ambush rather than pursuit. They lay motionless in the shallows or on the bottom of ponds and lakes or floating on the surface with either their eyes and nostrils showing or their head completely under water (Ref. 80914).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Caiman crocodilus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: demersal; Soft Bottom: mud;
Substrate Ref. Schaller, G.B. and P.G. Crawshaw Jr., 1982
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Schaller, G.B. and P.G. Crawshaw Jr., 1982
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Schaller, G.B. and P.G. Crawshaw Jr., 1982

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 4.45 0.75 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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