cayman
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈkeɪmən// UK //kˈeɪmən// cay·man
n. a large reptile that looks like a crocodile or alligator and lives in Central and South America.
n. a semi-aquatic crocodilian reptile belonging to the subfamily Caimaninae, native to Central and South America. Often distinguished from alligators by the lack of a bony septum between the nostrils.
The cayman rests on the river bank in the sun.
During the boat tour, we spotted a black cayman camouflaged among the reeds along the river's edge.
Ecologists monitor the cayman population as a key indicator of the health of the Amazonian wetlands, noting how seasonal flooding affects their nesting patterns.
Usage
The spelling 'caiman' is more common in modern scientific and general contexts than the variant 'cayman'.