Nesting of the Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) in northeastern Ecuador

Seven Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) nests were located and monitored at Limoncocha and Añangu lagoons (northeastern Ecuador), between October 2002 and March 2003. Melanosuchus niger nesting coincided with the annual low water level season in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Mean number of eggs per nest was 28 and 34 eggs at Limoncocha and Anangu, respectively. Egg chamber temperature was monitored in two nests during the incubation period and showed no relationship with external air temperature, suggesting that the nests have their own heating sources. Mean hatching success was 42.4%, and flooding of the nests was identified as the main cause of egg mortality (29% of all the eggs).