Caiman
| Caimans Temporal range: Paleocene—Present,
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Yacare Caiman, Caiman yacare | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauromorpha |
| Clade: | Archosauriformes |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Alligatoridae |
| Subfamily: | Caimaninae Brochu, 1999 |
| Type species | |
| Caiman latirostris Daudin, 1825
| |
Caimans are alligatorid crocodylians within Caimaninae. The group is one of two primary lineages within Alligatoridae, the other being alligators. Caimans inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small crocodylians, with most species reaching lengths of only a few metres, with the smallest being the Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), which grows to 1 metre (3 feet) long and the largest being the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), which can grow to 4 metres (13 ft) or more. 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.[1]
Species (Extant)
-
Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) -
Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) -
Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) -
Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) -
Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) -
Smooth-fronted caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus)
Taxonomy
- Subfamily Caimaninae
- Genus †Centenariosuchus
- Genus †Culebrasuchus
- Genus †Eocaiman
- Genus †Globidentosuchus
- Genus Paleosuchus
- Paleosuchus palpebrosus, Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman
- Paleosuchus trigonatus, Smooth-fronted Caiman
- Genus †Purussaurus
- Genus †Mourasuchus
- Genus †Necrosuchus
- Genus †Orthogenysuchus
- Genus †Tsoabichi
- Clade Jacarea
- Genus Caiman
- Caiman yacare, Yacare Caiman
- Caiman crocodilus, Spectacled Caiman
- Caiman caiman apaporiensis, Rio Apaporis Caiman
- Caiman caiman fuscus, Brown Caiman
- †Caiman lutescens
- †Caiman venezuelensis
- Caiman latirostris, Broad-snouted Caiman
- Genus Melanosuchus
- †Melanosuchus fisheri
- Melanosuchus niger, Black Caiman
- Genus Caiman
Phylogeny
Below is a cladogram modified from Brochu (2011).[2]
| Alligatoridae |
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Below is a cladogram modified from Hastings et al. (2013).[3]
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References
- ^ Brochu, C. A. (1999). "Phylogenetics, Taxonomy, and Historical Biogeography of Alligatoroidea". Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir. 6: 9–100. doi:10.2307/3889340. JSTOR 3889340.
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