Taxonomic Name: Paleosuchus palpebrosus

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)  

Wild Range: Flooded forests, large streams, and rivers in the Central Amazon basin of South America.

Diet: Varies by region and can include fish, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, and small mammals.

Longevity in the wild: Unknown, but adults reach sexual maturity at 6–8 years old.

Size: 1.2–1.6 m, including the tail

Weight: 6.5 kg

Fun Fact: Females care for their offspring for one year after they hatch. Like all crocodilians, the sex of the offspring depends on the temperature at which the eggs are incubated!

APZ Location: Toucan Ridge

Conservation Story: Although Cuvier’s dwarf caiman is possibly one of the most abundant crocodilians in the world, they are increasingly threatened by water pollution from mining and agricultural activities.