Definition

1. Noun:
   • A taxonomic genus of reptiles: "genus Caiman" refers to a specific biological genus within the family Alligatoridae, comprising several species of caimans, which are crocodilian reptiles native to Central and South America.

Usage

• The term "genus Caiman" is used in formal, scientific contexts such as biology, zoology, and taxonomy to classify and discuss this particular group of reptiles.
• It is typically written in italics () when referring to the genus name in scientific literature.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The spectacled caiman belongs to the genus Caiman.
  • A study compared the osteology of several species within genus Caiman.

Advanced Usage

• In phylogenetic classification: The genus is part of the subfamily Caimaninae. Discussions may involve its evolutionary relationship to other genera like (the black caiman) or (the smooth-fronted caimans).
  • The phylogeny suggests genus Caiman diverged from its closest relatives in the Miocene epoch.

Variants and Related Words

• Caiman (n): The common name for any reptile within the genus . Often used more broadly in non-scientific language.
  • We saw a caiman basking on the riverbank.
• Caimaninae (n): The subfamily that includes the genus and other related genera.

Synonyms

• Taxonomic synonyms: There are no direct common-language synonyms for the scientific term "genus Caiman." In informal contexts, "caiman genus" or "the genus" may be used peripherally.

Related Phrases

• Member of the genus Caiman: A phrase used to specify an organism's classification.
  • The yacare caiman is a prominent member of the genus Caiman.

Noun

1. caimans