Black Caiman
Melanosuchus niger
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassCrocodylia
- FamilyAlligatoridae (Alligators and Caimans)
- GenusMelanosuchus (Black Caimans)
- SpeciesMelanosuchus niger (Black Caiman)
The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian reptile endemic to South America. With a maximum length of around 5 to 6.5 m (16 to 21 ft) and a mass of over 450 kg (1,000 lb), it is the largest living species of the family Alligatoridae, and the third-largest crocodilian in the Neotropical realm. True to its common and scientific names, the black caiman has a dark greenish-black coloration as an adult. In some individuals, the pigmentation can appear almost jet-black. It has grey to brown banding on the lower jaw; juveniles have a more vibrant coloration compared to adults, with prominent white-pale yellow banding on the flanks that remains present well into adulthood (more than most other species). The banding on young helps with camouflage by breaking up their body outline, on land or in water, in an effort to avoid predation. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caiman sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 57 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Yasuní National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
🌅 When They're Spotted
Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 4 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 5 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Noel Kempff Mercado National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 7 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 8 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Caiman in Yasuní National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caiman sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 57 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Caiman in Yasuní National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Black Caiman in Yasuní National Park in our monthly data.