{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "caiman",
  "name": "Spectacled Caiman",
  "scientificName": "Caiman crocodilus",
  "category": "Reptile",
  "summary": "Spectacled caimans are medium-sized crocodilians named for a bony ridge between the eyes resembling spectacles. They inhabit wetlands from Central America to northern Argentina, weigh up to 40 kg (88 lb), and are the most widespread crocodilian in the Americas.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Reptilia",
    "order": "Crocodilia",
    "family": "Alligatoridae",
    "genus": "Caiman"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 40,
    "lengthM": 2,
    "topSpeedKmh": 30,
    "lifespanYears": 40
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Caiman crocodilus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Fish, birds, mammals, and amphibians"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Freshwater wetlands, rivers, and lakes of Central and South America"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Up to 40 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "7–40 kg (15–88 lb); larger in captivity"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 30 km/h (19 mph) in short bursts on land"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Freshwater wetlands from Central America through the Amazon basin to northern Argentina and Trinidad.",
    "continents": [
      "South America",
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/caiman/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/caiman/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}