Adult Size: Grow up to 8 feet (2.5 meters).

Headshape: Varies slightly with region/subspecies; slightly elongated snout.

Appearance: Lacks the dark blotches on the side of the jaws, distinguishing it from Caiman yacare and Caiman latirostris. All three in this genus have a prominent bony ridge between the eyes, but this ridge is what gives Caiman crocodilus the common name Spectacled Caiman. The ridge resembles the bridge of human eyeglasses. They do not have webbing on their front feet.

Nuchal Clusters: They have 4-5 rows (two or more rows with four scales each), which continue with the dorsal scale rows.

Flanks: Usually a couple of rows of large oval, keeled scutes with smaller unkeeled scales and soft skin in between the rows.

STATUS: Least Concern

*Compare with Caiman yacare.