The largest caiman species, the Black caiman, can reach up to 15 feet from tail to snout. The smallest species is the Cuvier’s dwarf caiman — females can reach up to 4 feet and males up to 5 feet.

There are six types of caimans living in their home range, and they vary in size from about 5 feet in length (Cuvier's dwarf caiman) to about 13 feet in length (the black caiman).

Caimans are members of the alligatoridae family of crocodilians and are native to Central and South America. The caiman at the Heard is a Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, the smallest such species, which ...