They are relatively small sized crocodilians, with all species reaching lengths of only a couple of meters and weighing 6 to 40 kg (13 to 88 lb) on average.

The broad-snouted and spectacled caimans are characterised by having a bony ridge across the bridge of the nose just below the eyes.

[9] The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) occurs in central and eastern South America, its range including southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina, within the drainage systems of the Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay and São Francisco Rivers.

[10] Caimans spend much of their time basking on mudflats or in sunlit, muddy jungle streams.

They can move on land with some rapidity, hiss when disturbed, and young individuals can inflate themselves before opening their jaws aggressively.

They may observe a potential prey, swim away, submerge and return to attack the floating bird or drinking mammal from underwater.