Caimans average lifespan is about 30-40 years in the wild and much longer in captivity. They can live in captivity up to 60 years.Sexual maturity of caiman reaches at a body length of 1.2-1.4 meters. Given that these reptiles belong to social individuals, males have different statuses. Dominant reptiles grow faster and ripen earlier.
The mating season falls on the rainy season, although the temperature at this time is lower than in the dry season. This is May-August, when winter is in the southern hemisphere. A female in thickets builds a nest, shoveling into rotten plants. Eggs burrow into this heap. In the masonry an average of 40 eggs, but there are 60 and 20.
The temperature in the nest is maintained constant due to decay processes. The incubation period lasts from 70 to 90 days, depending on the species. The sex of the reptile is directly related to temperature. If it kept at a level of 31 degrees Celsius and below, then the eggs hatch from the eggs. If the temperature was 32 degrees Celsius and higher, then the females appear. These reptiles have a very strong maternal instinct.
All the cubs are collected in quiet hills, where they are under the supervision of females. And those do not distinguish between their own and other people’s babies. Such careful care lasts up to 4 months, until the water begins to decrease after a wet season. Only after this, the young generation begins to lead an independent life.
