Large reptile, related to the alligator.

All caimans are found only in Central and South America.

Types of caiman
The black caiman Melanosuchus niger is the largest South American predator, reaching 6 m in length. Cuvier's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus may be as little as 1.2 m in length when fully grown (females). Schneider's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus reaches 1.7 m and is reasonably common in the Amazonian rainforests. Broad-snouted caiman Caiman latirostris is found is found mainly in freshwater swamps and grows up to 3.5 m. Common caiman Caiman crocodilus is found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and can grow up to 3 m.

Caimans are rapidly vanishing from Brazil. Research by Brazilian biologists 1996 showed that the black caiman Melanosuchus niger had disappeared from 41 of 47 sites where it had been thriving. Pollution from gold mining and industrial development and hunting are to blame.