Is Jaguar capable of killing big crocodiles ?

[peter]

BLACK CAIMAN AND JAGUAR

a - Interaction

Not so long ago, researchers found a black caiman of 380 cm. killed by a jaguar. The article, with a photograph, is on the internet, but I also saw it at Carnivora. I also remember an article (with a photograph) of a breeding, and therefore adult, female killed by a jaguar. Both the male and the female were not eaten. 

The conclusion is that jaguars are capable of killing adult female black caimans and quite large males, but incidents of this nature are very rare. Jaguars no doubt have been killed by black caimans as well.

b - Video  

Here's an interesting video on Melanosuchus niger: 

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/00000144-0a2c-d3cb-a96c-7b2d436d0000

c - Article

Here's an article written by J.B. Thorbjarnarson. He also featured in the video:

https://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/06_M-24b37cab.pdf

d - Black caimans and humans

When I was in French Guyana, I saw a large black caiman near a river. The head seemed broader and heavier than in other caimans and crocs of similar length.

They told me to be wary. The stories I heard have some foundation. Here's a report (2018) about a man attacked by a 5-meter black caiman in his canoe when he was fishing. He was saved by his wife: 

http://www.jctt.org/article.asp?issn=2542-6281;year=2018;volume=3;issue=1;spage=24;epage=26;aulast=Corr%EAa

A child in Brazil was not so lucky. The attack happened in 2010. The report is from 2011:

https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(10)00374-1/fulltext

e - Size 

I saw a few documentaries about the black caiman in French Guyana. Same region I visited. In one of them, they came very close to the boat of the crew. According to the film maker, large males exceeded 20 feet. If we add they have relatively large and massive skulls, the conclusion is adult males of Melanosuchus niger are not on the menu of jaguars. Adult jaguars, however, could be on the list of the black caiman.

The former owner of this skull most probably was about 14 feet in length. Too large for any jaguar, I think:   

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply