---
title: "Black Caiman"
description: "Melanosuchus niger — Reptiles. The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian reptile endemic to South America."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/black-caiman
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Black Caiman

> Melanosuchus niger — Reptiles. The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian reptile endemic to South America.

- Scientific name: *Melanosuchus niger*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers), `jungle` (Jungle)
- iNaturalist observations: 1708
- Wikidata: [Q504483](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q504483)
- iNaturalist taxon: [116532](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116532)

## Names

- en: Black Caiman
- de: Schwarzer Kaiman
- es: Caimán Negro
- fr: Caïman Noir
- nl: Zwarte kaaiman
- pt: Jacaré-açu
- pl: Kajman czarny

## Countries with the most observations

PE (540), EC (383), BR (289), BO (164), GY (84), GF (66), CO (16)

## Summary

The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a crocodilian reptile endemic to South America. With a maximum length of around 5 to 6.5 m (16 to 21 ft) and a mass of over 450 kg (1,000 lb), it is the largest living species of the family Alligatoridae, and the third-largest crocodilian in the Neotropical realm. True to its common and scientific names, the black caiman has a dark greenish-black coloration as an adult. In some individuals, the pigmentation can appear almost jet-black. It has grey to brown banding on the lower jaw; juveniles have a more vibrant coloration compared to adults, with prominent white-pale yellow…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_caiman

## Photo

![Black Caiman](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/black-caiman/medium.jpg)

Photo: NINA WENÓLI · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246507201

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/black-caiman?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).