Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) Fact Sheet: Diet & Feeding

Vertebrates

• Fish (Magnusson et al. 1987; Botero-Arias 2007)
• Frogs (Botero-Arias 2007)
• Snakes (Medem 1958; Botero-Arias 2007; Dutra-Araujo et al. 2017)
• Turtles (managed care) (Milan et al. 2010)
• Small mammals (Medem 1958)
• Birds (Trutnau and Sommerlad 2006)
• Crocodilians
  • Large males may occasionally eat other small crocodilians (Medem 1958; Medem 1981, as cited by Magnusson 1989)
    • Uncommonly, reports of cannibalism

Invertebrates

• Crabs (Magnusson et al. 1987; Campos et al. 1995)
• Shrimps (Magnusson et al. 1987; Botero-Arias 2007)
• Molluscs (Magnusson et al. 1987; Botero-Arias 2007)
  • Snails
  • Shellfish
• Insects, especially beetles (Magnusson et al. 1987; Botero-Arias 2007)
• Spiders (e.g., Botero-Arias 2007)

Digestion and scat

• Stones sometimes found in digestive tract (Medem 1958; Magnusson et al. 1987)