crocodilians

In the 1950s, the US pet trade began importing caimans; decades later, they may be competing with native crocodilians in the Everglades wetlands

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The spectacled caiman, a small crocodilian, now lives in parts of the Florida Everglades. (Wikimedia Commons)

There’s a small reptile that looks like a baby alligator somewhere in the Florida Everglades, living far from its home in Central and South America. That’s the story of the spectacled caiman. According to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news release, caimans have been established in Florida since the 1970s and were spotted there … Read more

Why crocodilians and capybaras can coexist: The science behind their surprising encounters

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Capybaras coexist near crocodiles and caimans despite being prey. Research reveals capybaras adapt their behavior to live alongside predators, focusing on group living and quick escapes, making predation less beneficial for caimans. This truce is based on calculated risks rather than friendship. (AI- generated/ ChatGPT)

Photographs of capybaras relaxing next to crocodiles and caimans continue making the rounds on the Internet, and these pictures aren’t fabricated in any way. Scientists who have been studying the rodents for years have offered clues about why such encounters can happen, from predator economics and the capybara’s defenses to studies on how these animals … Read more