The Paleosuchus trigonatus is Schneider’s dwarf caiman. The taxonomy is paloios and soukhos, which are Greek for ancient crocodile. Paleosuchus trigonatus males grow to about 4.9-5.5 ft. and the females grow to 3.9-4.6 ft.

 

The color is dark gray and black. Its color allows it to hide in its environment. They are smaller then regular crocodiles. Paleosuchus trigonatus’s niche is that they like to be by the water or in it. The Paleosuchus trigonatus are are found in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and in Venezuela.

 

The population is healthy. The population of the Paleosuchus trigonatus isn’t shrinking because it isn’t hunted for its skin for leather. What allows them to compete with the bigger crocodile for food is that when they hunt for food they raise their head high, while the neck is vertical. Anaconda’s, large lizards, coati, and jaguar’s eat this animal. It avoids being eaten by its behavior. Paleosuchus trigonatus hunts at night, protect its young, and hides in streams.

 

To me what stood out the most was that Paleosuchus trigonatus isn’t harmful to humans and its skin is too bony to be used for leather. I also learned the P. trigonatus is the second smallest species of crocodilian throughout the world.

 

Author: Brianna O

Published: 02/2007

 

Bibliography “Paleosuchus trigonatus.” 28 Jan. 2007 http://google.com “Paleosuchus trigonatus.” 3 Feb. 2007 http://ask.com “Paleosuchus trigonatus (SCHEIDER, 1801).” 31 Jan. 2007 http://google.com “Smooth-fronted caiman.” 3 Feb. 2007 http://google.com