Growth of Caiman latirostris Reared at Three Different Stocking Densities.

POLETTA, GISELA, PABLO SIROSKI, ALEJANDRO LARRIERA

Darwin, Northern territory of Australia

Congreso; 17th Woorking Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group IUCN/SSC; 2004

Crocodile Specialist Groups (CSG/IUCN/SSC)

In this study we evaluated the effects produced by stocking density over growth of juveniles Caiman latirostris. Thirty six captive-reared juvenile caimans were used in the experiment. They were randomly assigned to three different treatments consisting on stocking densities of 0.12; 0.06 and 0.04 m2/ind which were maintained in environmentally controlled chambers for 3 months. The juveniles were weighed and measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment to determine the increase in growth for each group. The results showed that caimans maintained at the lower and intermediate stocking densities gained more weight and showed a greater increase in total length than those of the higher stocking density group. The obtained results indicated that crowding of juvenile caimans slow down growth. These data agree with results found in similar studies for other crocodilians.