The spectacled caiman gets its name from the bony ridge between the fronts of its eyes, which appears to join them like a pair of glasses. Males can reach eight to nine feet (2.4 - 2.7 m) in length, making the spectacled caiman a relatively small crocodilian in comparison to species like the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), which can reach up to 19 feet (5.8 m). Females are smaller in size, and juveniles are yellow with black spots and bands along their bodies and tails. These markings, along with their bright colouring, become less distinct as the caimans mature. Adults are a dull olive green.