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| American Alligator v Black Caiman | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 26 2012, 05:23 PM (16,885 Views) | |
| Taipan | Jun 26 2012, 05:23 PM Post #1 |
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American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae. It is larger than the other extant alligator species, the Chinese alligator. The American alligator inhabits wetlands that frequently overlap with human-populated areas. The American alligator has a large, slightly rounded body, with thick limbs, a broad head, and a very powerful tail. Adult Alligators generally have dark gray or nearly black color. They may at times appear to be lighter based on detritus or algae in the water covering their skin. Juvenile alligators have a striped pattern for camouflage that they lose as they mature. Averaging about 9.5 in (24 cm) in length when newly hatched, alligators reach sexual maturity when they measure about 5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m). Adult male alligators average 11.2 ft (3.4 m) in length, while adult females average 8.2 to 9.8 ft (2.5 to 3.0 m). Average adult body weights are reported from 270 to 800 lb (120 to 360 kg), with a few exceptionally large and old males exceeding 14 ft (4.3 m) and 1,000 pounds (450 kg). One American Alligator reached a length of 19 feet 2 inches (5.84 m) and 2,200 lb (1,000 kg), which made it not only the largest alligator ever recorded, but also among the largest crocodilians on record (although the related Black Caiman and 5 other crocodilians are believed to equal or exceed this size and prehistoric crocodilians such as Sarcosuchus, Deinosuchus, and Purussaurus reached much greater size). The tail, which accounts for half of the alligator's total length, is primarily used for aquatic propulsion. The tail can also be used as a weapon of defense when an alligator feels threatened. Alligators travel very quickly in water and while they are generally slow-moving on land, alligators can lunge short distances very quickly. They have five claws on each front foot and four on each rear foot. American Alligators have the strongest laboratory measured bite of any living animal, measured at up to 9,452 newtons (2,125 lbf) in laboratory conditions. It should be noted that this experiment has not (at the time of the paper published) been replicated in any other crocodilians. ![]() Black Caiman - Melanosuchus niger The black caiman, Melanosuchus niger, is a crocodilian. It is a carnivorous reptile that lives along slow-moving rivers and lakes, in the seasonally flooded savannas of the Amazon basin, and in other freshwater habitats in South America. The black caiman has a bony ridge over brown eyes, and black, scaly skin. The skin coloration helps with camouflage during its nocturnal hunts, but may also help absorb heat (see thermoregulation). Mothers on guard near their nests are tormented by blood-sucking flies that gather around their vulnerable eyes leaving them bloodshot. The black caiman is one of the largest reptiles. It is the largest predator in the Amazon basin and possibly the largest member of the family Alligatoridae. The black caiman is one of the largest extant reptiles. It is the largest predator in the Amazon basin and possibly the largest member of the family Alligatoridae. Most adult black caimans are 2.8 to 4.26 metres (9.2–14 ft) in length, with a few old males growing larger than 5 m (16 ft) and exceeding a weight of 400 kg (880 lb). Sub-adult male specimens of around 2.5–3.35 m (8.2–11.0 ft) will weigh roughly 95–100 kg (210–220 lb) but will quickly increase in bulk and weigh. Mid-sized mature males of 3.5–4 m (11–13 ft) weigh approximately 300 kg (660 lb). The black caiman broadly overlaps in size with the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), although it is on average larger at maturity. In some areas (such as the Araguaia River) this species is consistently reported at 4 to 5 metres (13–16 ft) in length, much larger than the alligator (which rarely even reaches 4 meters), although specimens this size are uncommon. Several unconfirmed (probably largely anecdotal) sources report that the black caiman can grow to over 6 m (20 ft) in length and weigh up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb). ![]() ________________________________________________________________
Edited by Taipan, Nov 20 2015, 10:48 PM.
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| Superpredator | Jun 26 2012, 06:49 PM Post #2 |
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Apex Predator
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The alligator is smaller but only by 100kg. Aren't 'gators stronger than caimans at parity or close to parity? |
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| DinosaurMichael | Jun 26 2012, 08:25 PM Post #3 |
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Apex Predator
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I vote for the Alligator due to it's stronger bite. |
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| Elephantus | Jun 26 2012, 08:47 PM Post #4 |
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Tusker
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If the above is correct, then the black caiman wins. It would really depend on size, as these two species are extremely similar. I would not say that this particular caiman is any weaker then an alligator. Edited by Elephantus, Jun 26 2012, 08:47 PM.
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| Wild | Jun 27 2012, 12:58 AM Post #5 |
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Apex Predator
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this solely depends on who's bigger and that's hard to determine thanks to their overlapping weights |
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| Themetalboa | Aug 13 2012, 12:39 AM Post #6 |
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Autotrophic Organism
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Alligator wins, the caiman is smaller and weaker. |
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| Black Ice | Aug 17 2012, 07:14 AM Post #7 |
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Drom King
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Thats..... Incorrect,on average black caiman are bigger |
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| Mauro20 | Aug 17 2012, 07:23 AM Post #8 |
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Badass
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My vote goes to the black caiman, due to its size advantage. |
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| Godzillasaurus | Aug 17 2012, 10:50 AM Post #9 |
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Reptile King
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Actually, the black caiman has grown to even larger sizes than the american alligator. So technically, the world's largest member of the alligator family should be a caiman. |
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| Carcharadon | Aug 17 2012, 12:18 PM Post #10 |
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Shark Toothed Reptile
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Wrong. The Black Caiman is bigger and stronger. It wins |
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| Superpredator | Oct 29 2012, 04:35 PM Post #11 |
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Apex Predator
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I love how 3 people corrected this. |
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| Fishfreak | Oct 29 2012, 06:07 PM Post #12 |
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Friend of the fish
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other than size there aren't any obvious differences, but another reason to favor the caiman imo is the rivaling animal species it has to deal with (i know american have rivals as well, but i think caimans have more). my vote goes to the black caiman |
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| Godzillasaurus | Jan 7 2013, 06:44 AM Post #13 |
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Reptile King
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Think again! The black caiman actually grows to even larger sizes than the American alligator, making it the true biggest alligatorid. |
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| Godzillasaurus | Jan 7 2013, 06:45 AM Post #14 |
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Reptile King
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I vote for the black caiman, because contrary to popular belief, they can actually grow larger than the American alligator. |
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| mohamad | Jan 7 2013, 07:28 AM Post #15 |
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Heterotrophic Organism
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in avrage weigh which one is bigger? |
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