Common Caiman
Common CaimanCommon CaimanCommon CaimanCommon Caiman

Common Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
27 Verified records at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the white caiman, common caiman, and speckled caiman, is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae. It is brownish-, greenish-, or yellowish-gray colored and has a spectacle-like ridge between its eyes, which is where its common name come from. It grows to a length of 1.4–2.5 m (4 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) and a weight of 7–40 kg (15–88 lb), with males being both longer and heavier than females. Its diet varies seasonally, commonly consisting of crabs, fish, small mammals, amphibians and snails. Breeding occurs from May to August and 14–40 eggs are laid in July and August. This crocodilian has a large range and population; it is native to much of Latin America, and has been introduced to the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 27 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
<5
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
20–30
May
40–50
Jun
30–40
Jul
20–30
Aug
30–40
Sep
40–50
Oct
10–20
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
70–80%
2 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
60–70%
3 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
60–70%
4 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
50–60%
5 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
40–50%
6 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
40–50%
7 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
8 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
30–40%
9 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
30–40%
10 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
30–40%
11 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
20–30%
12 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
13 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
20–30%
14 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
20–30%
15 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
20–30%
16 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
20–30%
17 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
20–30%
18 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
19 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
10–20%
20 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
10–20%
21 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
22 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
23 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
24 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
25 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
26 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
27 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
28 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
29 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
30 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data
31 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
32 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
33 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
34 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
35 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
36 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
38 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
39 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
40 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Caiman in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

About 29% of wildlife watchers report a Common Caiman sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 27 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Caiman in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

January has the highest sighting rate for Common Caiman in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge in our monthly data.

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