ACR Species Fact Sheet 0002: Spectacled Caiman
Spectacled Caiman · Caiman crocodilus
The second ACR Species Fact Sheet covers the Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) — a medium-sized crocodilian widely distributed across lowland freshwater habitats throughout Central and northern South America, including most of Costa Rica.
Why “spectacled”?
The common name refers to the bony ridge that runs between the eyes, evoking a pair of spectacles. The species is highly adaptable: it occupies marshes, slow rivers, oxbow lakes and even man-made ponds. Adults typically reach 1.5 – 2.5 m; in Costa Rica the species is most easily observed in protected wetlands such as Caño Negro, Tortuguero and the lower Tempisque basin.
Download the fact sheet
The fact sheet above is available as a free PNG image. Share it freely with naturalists, students, and guides.
For the full distribution map, photographic galleries and the wider crocodilian fauna of Costa Rica, see the Animals of Costa Rica App — available on Google Play and the App Store.
