Size of nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802).

P. M. L. Leiva,M. S. Simoncini,C. I. Piña,A. Larriera,T. C. G. Portelinha

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.180892

Abstract

The southern distribution of the Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802) in Argentina occurs in Santa Fe Province, where its population has been under management by "Proyecto Yacaré" since 1990. From 1997 to 2016, we captured 77 nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans in Santa Fe Province. Our results suggest that previously defined size classes for Broad-snouted Caiman do not adequately describe the reproductively mature female segment of the population. Here we propose to change size ranges for general size classes for Broad-snouted Caiman. In addition, we have observed that reintroduced reproductive females by Proyecto Yacaré represent about 32% of captured females. These results indicate that reintroduced females by the management program are surviving and reproducing in the wild at least up to 20 years.

Highlights

The Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a medium-sized crocodilian reaching a maximum total length (TL) of 3.5 m, in some areas within its range, individuals >2 m are rare in the wild (Verdade et al, 2010).Braz
We captured 77 nesting females Broad-snouted Caimans (Table 1), with snout-vent length (SVL) ranging between 68-98 cm
Since 2002 to the present, we observed that reintroduced reproductive females represent on average 32% of captured females

Summary

Introduction

The Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a medium-sized crocodilian reaching a maximum total length (TL) of 3.5 m, in some areas within its range, individuals >2 m are rare in the wild (Verdade et al, 2010). Recent studies of wild Broad-snouted Caiman in coastal areas in Estação Ecológica do Taim (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil) revealed that 59% of captured individuals were >2 m (Araújo, 2016).

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Conclusion