- For the genus, see Caiman (genus). For other uses, see Caiman (disambiguation).
Caimans are alligatorid crocodylians within Caimaninae. The group is one of two primary lineages within Alligatoridae, the other being alligators. Caimans inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small crocodylians, with the smallest being Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), which grows to 1 m (3 ft) long and the largest being the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), which can grow to 4 m (13 ft) or more. Several extinct forms are known, including Purussaurus, a giant Miocene genus that grew to 12 m (39 ft) and the equally large Mourasuchus, which had a wide duck-like snout.[1]
Taxonomy
Phylogeny
Below is a cladogram modified from Brochu (2011).[2]
Alligatoridae |
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Alligatorinae |
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Caimaninae |
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Eocaiman cavernensis |
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Necrosuchus ionensis |
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Tsoabichi greenriverensis |
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Paleosuchus palpebrosus |
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Paleosuchus trigonatus |
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Mourasuchus |
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Orthogenysuchus olseni |
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Purussaurus mirandai |
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Purussaurus neivensis |
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Jacarea |
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Caiman crocodilus |
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Caiman yacare |
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Caiman latirostris |
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UCMP 39978 (referred to Caiman lutescens) |
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Melanosuchus fisheri |
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Melanosuchus niger |
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Below is a cladogram modified from Hastings et al. (2013).[3]
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Stangerochampsa mccabei |
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Brachychampsa montana |
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Brachychampsa sealeyi |
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Alligatoridae |
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Alligatorinae |
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Caimaninae |
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Culebrasuchus mesoamericanus |
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Eocaiman cavernensis |
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Tsoabichi greenriverensis |
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Paleosuchus palpebrosus |
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Paleosuchus trigonatus |
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Centenariosuchus gilmorei |
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Caiman crocodilus |
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Caiman yacare |
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Caiman latirostris |
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Caiman lutescens |
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Melanosuchus fisheri |
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Melanosuchus niger |
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References
- ↑ Brochu, C. A. (1999). "Phylogenetics, Taxonomy, and Historical Biogeography of Alligatoroidea". Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 6: 9–100. doi:10.2307/3889340. JSTOR 3889340.
- ↑ Brochu, C. A. (2011). "Phylogenetic relationships of Necrosuchus ionensis Simpson, 1937 and the early history of caimanines". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163: S228–S256. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00716.x.
- ↑ Hastings, A. K.; Bloch, J. I.; Jaramillo, C. A.; Rincon, A. F.; MacFadden, B. J. (2013). "Systematics and biogeography of crocodylians from the Miocene of Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33 (2): 239. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.713814.