Caiman

"Caiman" redirects here. For the Caiman armored vehicle, see BAE Caiman (armored vehicle).

Deuterostomia

Caimans
Yacare Caiman, Caiman yacare
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Superorder:	Crocodylomorpha
Order:	Crocodylia
Family:	Alligatoridae
Subfamily:	Caimaninae Brochu, 1999
Type species
Caiman fissipes Spix, 1825
Genera
Caiman †Eocaiman Melanosuchus †Mourasuchus †Necrosuchus †Orthogenysuchus Paleosuchus †Purussaurus †Tsoabichi

Caimans are alligatorid crocodylians within the subfamily Caimaninae. The group is one of two subfamilies of the family Alligatoridae, the other being alligators. Caimans inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small crocodilians, with most species reaching lengths of only a few meters, although one species, the Black caiman, can exceed 4 metres (13 ft) in length. Several extinct forms are known, including Purussaurus, a giant Miocene genus that grew to 12 metres (39 ft) and the equally large Mourasuchus, which had a wide duck-like snout.

Taxonomy

• Subfamily Caimaninae
  • Genus Necrosuchus (extinct)
  • Genus Eocaiman (extinct)
  • Genus Paleosuchus
    • Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, Paleosuchus palpebrosus
    • Smooth-fronted Caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus
  • Genus Purussaurus (extinct)
  • Genus Mourasuchus (extinct)
  • Genus Orthogenysuchus (extinct)
  • Genus Tsoabichi (extinct)
  • Genus Caiman
    • Yacare Caiman, Caiman yacare
    • Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus
      • Rio Apaporis Caiman, C. c. apaporiensis
      • Brown Caiman, C. c. fuscus
    • Caiman lutescans (extinct)
    • Caiman sorontans^{[citation needed]} (extinct) - Not reported in the literature, probably a 'nomen nudum'
    • Broad-snouted Caiman, Caiman latirostris
  • Genus Melanosuchus
    • Melanosuchus fisheri (extinct)
    • Black Caiman, Melanosuchus niger