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The Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is an endangered species, related to alligators. 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 can grow to about 6 meterFor other uses of "metre" and "meter", see Metre (disambiguation). The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Systeme International d'Unites). It is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in absolute vacus (20 feet) in length, and is both the largest alligatorThis article refers to the large reptile. For information on the place, see Alligator, Mississippi. Alligators American alligator : Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Crocodylia : Alligatoridae Alligator Alligator mississippiensis ''Alligator sinensis Allig and the Amazon's largest predator. They eat fishAtlantic herring, Clupea harengus one of the most abundant species in the world Photo A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded) water-dwelling vertebrate with gills. There are over 27,000 species of fish, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates., including piranhaPiranha Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae Genera Serrasalmus Pristobrycon and 5 others Species Catoprion mento ''Citharinus citharus citharus ''Metynnis maculatus ''Ps, birdFor other meanings of bird see bird (disambiguation). Many see text Birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as wings, and hollow bones. There are almost 9000 known species of birds ins, turtleSee text Turtles a generic name for the group of reptiles which includes tortoises and terrapins are reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special bony shell developed from their ribs. All turtles are members of the order Testudines, which includess, and land-dwelling animals like the capybaraThe capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is the largest of living rodents (the now extinct rodent Phoberomys pattersoni was significantly bigger. They are native to most of the tropical and temperate parts of South America east of the Andes, always near wat and deer when they come to the water to get a drink. Their teeth are designed to grab not rip, so they swallow their food whole after drowning it. Immature specimens eat crustaceans and insects.

The black caiman has a bony ridge over red eyes, and black, scaly skin. The skin coloration helps with camouflage during its nocturnal hunts, but may also help absorb heat (See thermoregulation).

In December, females build a nest of soil and vegetation, which is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) across and 0.75 meters wide (2.5 feet). They lay from 50 to 60 eggs, which hatch in about six weeks. They sometimes eat their young.

Their main predator is humans, who hunt them for leather or meat.