Specific information on broad-snouted caimans is not available. Crocodilian communication has received relatively little study. However, among several species, different calls have been identified. It is known that crocodilians communicate acoustically and that most noises are short, monosyllabic, and very repetitive. They become less vocal as they mature.
There are two variations of calls, those of juveniles and those of adults. Juveniles emit hatching calls, which include the noises that can be heard pre-hatching. These calls function to maintain synchrony among hatchlings. One hatched they emit contact calls which aid in location and keeping them close together. Hatchlings also displays distress calls that may induce parental protection.
Among the adult population, communication dwindles with maturity, though audible communication is a large part of courtship rituals. Mates will bellow during courship, usually when the crocodile is in the water. Maternal growls are the way in which mothers communicate with their hatchlings while still in the egg and is thought to facilitate offspring recognition. Hisses may be used when the mother in defending her nest against predators, and may actually deter predators.
Communication Channels: acoustic
Other Communication Modes: vibrations
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical
Commercial hunting has threatened wild populations of C. latirostris. Most hunting occurs for its skin, especially well-suited to tanning. Their skin is considered more valuable that that of other species of caiman. Caiman latirostris was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1994, as populations declined with over-hunting. This species continues to be listed in CITES Appendix I (threatened with extinction) throughout its natural range, except in Argentina, where populations have begun to rebound in response to ranching programs like Proyecto Yacare. As a result of ranching programs, Argentinian populations have been elevated to Appendix II status (no longer threatened with extinction, but a species for which trade needs to be controlled). Some illegal hunting of C. latirostris still occurs, but is considered less of a threat than in the past, because other species are more readily available for hunting. The size of wild C. latirostris populations is estimated at approximately 250,000 to 500,000 individuals. Currently, habitat destruction and water pollution are the greatest threat to C. latirostris populations, most notably deforestation for agriculture (land clearing and draining) and hydroelectric power throughout its range in Brazil and Uruguay.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i; appendix ii
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: lower risk - least concern
Embryos of C. latirostris hatch after 70 days. Embryos have a notochord by day 2, blood vessels are present by day 5, and limbs are starting to form around day 18. From day 60 on, not much new development occurs, the yolk sac becomes nourishhment for the embryo and the yolk scar begins to form. Sex is determined by temperature. There is a specific period during incubation where the egg can become either sex with the application or reduction of heat. After this temperature sensitive period the sex can no longer be changed. All C. latirostris eggs incubated at temperatures of 29 to 31 degrees become females, while hatchlings incubated at 33 degrees are all males.
Development - Life Cycle: temperature sex determination
In areas where their habitat overlaps with C. yacare, C. latirostris has colonized cattle stock ponds. Here they are considered a potential nuisance for farmers and their livestock.
Broad-snouted caimans are prized for their ultra-soft hides. Hunting in the 1990's led to severe population declines. This species was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1994. They are now making a recovery due to ranching programs.
Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material
Little is known about the roles these crocodilians play in their ecosystem. They are likely to be important predators of small animals in their aquatic habitats.
Ecosystem Impact: creates habitat
Broad-snouted caimans have a diverse diet consisting of aquatic snails, small fish, and amphibians. As they mature, they are able to eat larger prey, such as larger fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The broad snout of these caimans are well-suited for crushing mollusc shells.
Animal Foods: amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates, Piscivore , Molluscivore )
Broad-snouted caimans (Caiman latirostris) are found in northeastern South America. Their geographic range extends from northeast Argentina to southeastern Bolivia and Paraguay to the northern portion of Uruguay. This species thrives in swampy slow-moving freshwater and warmer climates.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
Broad-snouted caiman habitat overlaps with that of Yacare caimans (Caiman yacare). In places where overlap occurs, C. latirostris has adapted to life in mangroves with heavy vegetation, swamps and they have been increasingly found in cattle stock ponds. They are also often found in drainage ditches from the Atlantic ocean. Both species are found at elevations of approximately 600 m. This seems to be due to their darker coloration, which allows each species to absorb more sunlight and to regulate their body temperatures at higher, cooler elevations.
Range elevation: 600 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial ; freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; brackish water
Wetlands: swamp
Other Habitat Features: agricultural ; estuarine
Broad-snouted caimans have been reported to live 22 years (maximum lifespan) in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 22 (high) years.
Broad-snouted caimans are medium-sized crocodilians with a reported maximum length of 3.5 m. Average length is 2 m in captivity. Compared to related species like black caimans (Melanosuchus niger), which can exceed 5m in length, broad-snouted caimans are considered small. Their coloration ranges from black and brown to an olive-greenish hue. They have a tubercle, a small projection of the scales, between the eyes. Broad-snouted caimans have soft hides that are one of the most highly coveted of all crocodile skins. It is a subject of debate wether or not true subspecies exists. Some say Argentinian populations of C. latirostris that are small (less than 2m) should be classified as C. latirostris chacoensis.
Range length: 3.5 (high) m.
Average length: 2 m.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
The only predator of mature broad-snouted caimans appears to be humans. Broad-snouted caimans are in high demand because of their skin, which is one of the softest available. They were poached nearly to extinction in the early's 1990's but have made a significant recovery due to ranching programs, like Proyecto Yacare in Argentina. Ranching programs harvest eggs and raise hatchlings to be reintroduced into the wild. Eggs and young broad-snouted caimans may be eaten by a wide variety of medium to large sized predators. Broad-snouted caimans are cryptically colored to prevent predators and prey from seeing them.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Mating behavior in broad-snouted caimans is not well described in the literature.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Each clutch contains between 20 and 50 eggs. Nest predation decreases clutch size and sometimes larger broad-snouted caimans will eat hatchlings and eggs. The gestation period is about 70 days. The gestational period has been broken down in 28 phases or steps of development that monitor size and the specialization of tissues. It is thought that the first rains may stimulate ovulation in female broad-snouted caimans. Other crocodilians of similar size to C. latirostris have hatchlings that measure an average of 30 g at birth.
The age of sexual reproduction is not yet known, though females as young a 4 years, 10 months have laid eggs. The hatchlings emerge as small versions of mature broad-snouted caimans.
Breeding interval: Broad snouted caimans breed during the rainy season each year. It is thought that the first rains stimualte ovulation in females.
Breeding season: Breeding and nesting vary by region. In Brazil, breeding occurs from August to January. In Uruguay they breed in January and, in Argentina, these caimans breed from January to March.
Range number of offspring: 20 to 50.
Average number of offspring: 30.
Average gestation period: 70 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 4 to 10 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 5 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 4 to 6 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; induced ovulation ; oviparous
Though broad-snouted caiman mothers invest in their young through supplying eggs with nutrition and building and protecting nests, it is unknown how long that investment lasts or when independence is achieved. A female C. latirostris is very protective of her nest and will guard it with some help from the father (only seen in captive populations). Hatchlings communicate with their mother through hatching calls a few days prior to hatching. Similar to other reptiles, they have an egg tooth on the top of the snout, with which they chip at the egg. Mothers may gently take the egg in her jaws and apply slight pressure in order to help crack the egg. There may be some protection of young after hatching, as in other crocodilians.
Parental Investment: male parental care ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Male); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)
The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae found in eastern and central South America, including southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia.[4] It is found mostly in freshwater marshes, swamps, and mangroves, usually in still or very slow-moving waters.[5] It will often use man-made cow ponds.[6]
In the wild, adults normally grow to 2 to 2.5 m (6 ft 7 in to 8 ft 2 in) in length, but a few old males have been recorded to reach up to 3.5 m (11 ft).[5][7] Captive adults were found to have weighed 23 to 65 kg (51 to 143 lb).[8][9] Most tend to be of a light olive-green color. A few individuals have spots on their faces.[6] The most notable physical characteristic is the broad snout from which its name is derived.[6] Borteiro et al 2009[10] studied the food habits of C. latirostris.[11] The snout is well adapted to rip through the dense vegetation of the marshes. Due to this, they swallow some of the dense vegetation while foraging for food.[10]
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The broad-snouted caiman is ectothermic, it depends on its external environment to regulate its body temperature. A recent study on the heart rate's contribution to the regulation of the caimans' body temperature showed an increase in heart rate as the temperature increased, and it lowers once the temperature lowered.[12] Borteiro et al 2008 study young caimans' behaviour and find they rely heavily on their ability to find shelter to avoid predation.[11] They find this behaviour quickly drops off as they age.[11] The heat of the sun is absorbed through the skin into the blood, keeping its body temperature up. An increased heart rate helps the newly absorbed heat transfer throughout the body more quickly. When the air becomes cooler, the need for the heart rate to remain at an increased rate is lost.[12]
Its diet consists mainly of small invertebrates, and it can crush shells to feed on turtles and snails[6] (including ampullarid snails).[13] As the size of C. latirostris increases, the size of its prey tends to increase. All young broad-snouted caimans have a diet consisting of mostly insects; however, as the caiman grows, it increases its intake of birds, fish, amphibians,[14] and reptiles.[10][11] Captive specimens have been documented and photographed devouring the fruit of Philodendron bipinnatifidum without external stimulation, though it is unclear if this is because of them being housed with tegu or a natural behaviour.[15] A later study by another group also concluded that C. latirostris and its relatives are obligate omnivores, and play an important role in the dispersal of plant seeds in their habitats.[16]
The female lays 18 to 50 eggs at a time. While rare, up to 129 eggs have been found within a single nest, presumably from several layings.[5] They lay their eggs in two layers, with a slight temperature difference between the two layers. This will result in a more even ratio of males and females.[6] The caiman does not have sex chromosomes, but instead depends on temperature to determine the ratio of male and female offspring. Eggs at warmer temperatures (32 °C (90 °F) or higher) develop into males and eggs at cooler temperatures (31 °C (88 °F) or lower) develop into females.[17] There are more important factors that contribute to the sex determination of the eggs. Estrogen levels and stress levels of the mother can have an effect. There was a study conducted that concluded that every nest was different in sex although they contained the same temperature. This indicated there are other factor that contribute to a nest having all male or females eggs.[18]
Hunting of the species began in the 1940s. Its skin is greatly valued for its smooth texture. Until most countries have made hunting them illegal, this was the largest threat to the broad-snouted caiman. This helped them to regain their population.[5] The new threat is habitat destruction.[5] Deforestation and pollution run-off are the two leading causes to the destruction of their habitat.[6]
It is a very well-known species in the lagoons of the urban areas of Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in Rio de Janeiro.1990 – Endangered (E) 1988 – Endangered (E) 1986 – Endangered (E) 1982 – Endangered (E)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae found in eastern and central South America, including southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. It is found mostly in freshwater marshes, swamps, and mangroves, usually in still or very slow-moving waters. It will often use man-made cow ponds.
