An unpleasant encounter: non-fatal attack by the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, on a human in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Autores

  • André Yves Autor
  • Maria Olivia Dourado Sanna Autor
  • Laura Fonseca Martins Autor
  • Guilherme Vitor Benfica Duarte Autor
  • Luís Antônio Bochetti Bassetti Autor
  • Thiago Simon Marques Autor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19046873

Palavras-chave:

Comportamento de defesa, conflito humano-vida selvagem, etnozoologia

Resumo

Interações entre humanos e crocodilianos fornecem informações importantes para orientar estratégias de conservação e de segurança pública. Embora ataques a humanos sejam raros, a maioria é interpretada como uma resposta defensiva. Relatamos um ataque não fatal de um Caiman latirostris em Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Durante um treinamento de natação, a vítima foi atacada sem que o animal fosse detectado visualmente. O evento envolveu uma mordida na região do tronco, seguida de movimentos laterais da cabeça e contato com os membros posteriores e a cauda. Após a reação defensiva da vítima, o animal a soltou e a seguiu por aproximadamente 50 metros na superfície. Lesões incluíram perfurações e lacerações torácicas, escoriações nos membros inferiores e uma ferida axilar. O padrão das marcas sugere um jacaré com cerca de 150 cm. As características do incidente são consistentes com uma hipótese de comportamento defensivo, possivelmente relacionada a defesa territorial. Registros assim são relevantes para compreender os contextos dessas interações e orientar estratégias de manejo e prevenção.

   

Biografia do Autor

  • André Yves

    André Y. is a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) and a Master’s in Ecology from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). Conducts research on the ecology and evolution of Neotropical herpetofauna. Frequently works with decision-makers on topics related to biodiversity. Since 2019, has been a member of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) within IUCN.

  • Maria Olivia Dourado Sanna

    Maria Olívia D. S. is a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Master’s in Entomology from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). Works as an environmental consultant and herpetologist at Sustentare Environmental Services, with experience in rescue, survey, and monitoring of fauna, especially herpetofauna.

  • Laura Fonseca Martins

    Laura F. M. is a Graduating in Biological Sciences from PUC Minas. Has a primary interest in the area of conservation and behavior of crocodilians, especially Brazilian caimans. Has experience with handling and rehabilitating wild animals, and has also worked on a conservation project for Atlantic Forest caimans, gaining field skills and environmental education experience. Conducts work with monitoring populations of broad-snouted caimans at the Rio Doce State Park. Has experience in maintaining scientific collections and is a member of the Mammalogy Laboratory at the Museum of Natural Sciences of PUC Minas.

  • Guilherme Vitor Benfica Duarte

    Guilherme Vitor B. D. is a Family and community medical doctor for 12 years in Serra do Cipó, endurance athlete, passionate about animals. Since 2024, he has been voluntarily conducting wildlife monitoring in the Serra do Cipó region through occasional recordings and camera traps.

  • Luís Antônio Bochetti Bassetti

    Luís Antônio B. B. is a Veterinary Doctor from the University of Alfenas (UNIFENAS), Master’s in Agroecosystem Ecology from the University of São Paulo (USP), PhD in Applied Ecology from the University of São Paulo (USP). Regional Vice-Director of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG/SSC/IUCN). Delegate of IUCN at the Conference of the Parties of CITES (CoP19), in Panama City, Panama. Consultant for decision-making in crocodilian conservation and status with official agencies in Brazil and abroad. Conducts research on ecology, conservation, health status, and management of crocodilians.

  • Thiago Simon Marques

    Thiago Simon M. is a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Ph.D. in Applied Ecology from the University of São Paulo (USP), and currently an Adjunct Professor II at the University of Sorocaba (UNISO). Coordinator of the Applied Ecology Laboratory and advisor in the graduate program in Technological and Environmental Processes at UNISO. Conducts research on ecology, conservation, and management of vertebrates. Member of the Species Survival Commission (SSC), the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG), and the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) within IUCN.

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Publicado

2026-06-08

Edição

v. 15 n. 1 (2026): Herpetologia Brasileira

Seção

Artigos

Licença

Direitos autorais (c) 2026 Herpetologia Brasileira

Creative Commons License

Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Como Citar

YVES, André; DOURADO SANNA, Maria Olivia; FONSECA MARTINS, Laura; BENFICA DUARTE, Guilherme Vitor; BOCHETTI BASSETTI, Luís Antônio; SIMON MARQUES, Thiago. An unpleasant encounter: non-fatal attack by the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, on a human in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Herpetologia Brasileira, [S. l.], v. 15, n. 1, 2026. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19046873. Disponível em: https://hb.sbherpetologia.org.br/index.php/hb/article/view/255. Acesso em: 15 jun. 2026.