Many people who have seen caiman skin probably have mistaken it for other species of crocodile. However, to the trained eye, caiman skin is distinctive from both of those because of its bony plates underneath the scales (also known as ossification). This creates some of the most captivating texturized patterns in the exotic leather industry.
Caiman is actually a crocodilian, a close cousin of the alligator. They are plentiful in Central and South America, but are mostly found in Colombia. They surprisingly only grow to about one meter in length and are found in swampy costal regions.