Caiman (genus)
| Caiman Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Present, | |
|---|---|
| Yacare caiman, Caiman yacare | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Alligatoridae |
| Subfamily: | Caimaninae |
| Clade: | Jacarea |
| Genus: | Caiman Spix, 1825 |
| Type species | |
| Caiman crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Subgroups | |
| Synonyms | |
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Caiman is a genus of caimans within the alligatorid subfamily Caimaninae. They inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small sized crocodilians, with all species reaching lengths of only a couple of meters and weighing 6 to 40 kg (13 to 88 lb) on average.