Ecological and behavioral implications of multiple paternity in the Smooth-fronted caiman in French Guiana

The identification of genetic mating systems in a variety of species has challenged the previous view on animal mating patterns over the past decade, resulting in the identification of multiple paternity across all vertebrate classes. In crocodylians, all species that have been investigated demonstrate multiple paternity, which may represent the ancestral state of the clade. The Smooth-fronted caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus, is one of the last species whose genetic mating system has yet to be investigated. In this study, we analyzed genetic samples of the smooth-fronted caiman in French Guiana, a secretive species that is difficult to observe in the wild. Scute samples were taken from three populations and five groups of neonates that hatched shortly before. Microsatellite markers were used to infer the minimum number of fathers that sired each clutch. Our results clearly show that multiple paternity was common, with 60% of the sampled group of neonates showing a minimum of two sires. T..., , # Ecological and behavioral implications of multiple paternity in the Smooth-fronted caiman in French Guiana

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.2fqz6131b](10.5061/dryad.2fqz6131b)

## Description of the data and file structure

This is supporting data for the Article: *Ecological and behavioral implications of multiple paternity in the Smooth-fronted caiman in French Guiana*, published in Ecology and Evolution ([https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71337)](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71337 \"Go to primary article\")

Authors: Carolin Dittrich, Rosanna Mangione, Olivier Marquis, Eva Ringler, Jérémy Lemaire

The data sampling occurred between 2016 and 2020 in three populations in French Guiana (see Fig.1).

We provide the micro-satellite data for each of the eight loci with Locus name according to Muniz et al. 2019.

The data tables are provided in delimiter-separated csv format, explanations are given below.

All details on data processing can be found in the manuscript.

The details for the microsatel...,