What Is Caiman latirostris Teaching Us About Endocrine Disruptors?

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which include a large variety of man-made chemicals frequently used around the world, are substances that behave as endogenous hormones or as inhibitors of their actions. The negative impact of EDCs on laboratory rodents, humans, aquatic and avian species has been deeply studied for years. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the huge value of the native South American crocodilian species Caiman latirostris as a sentinel species of EDCs pollution and to summarize how much we have learned from this caiman in the two last decades. We expect that, the results here described can contribute not only to the knowledge of the effects of EDCs on wild species but also to warn government control agencies and EDCs users and producers for their responsible use as a tool for the preservation of natural ecosystems.