Common name : Paraguayan caiman, Red caiman, Piranha caiman, Southern spectacled caiman
Scientific name : Caiman yacare
Family : Alligatoridae
Native to : Central South America
Interesting fact : They love to feed, almost exclusively, on piranha fish, giving them their common name, piranha caiman.
Conservation status : Least Concern
Jacaré caimans are similar to American alligators but with more teeth and triangular snouts. Growing up to 8 feet, their black bodies are covered in scales. They search for snails on floating vegetation and also eat fish, birds and mammals. They lay eggs on rotting vegetation and the young ones are on their own once hatched.
