Dwarf crocodile
Dwarf crocodile | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauromorpha |
Clade: | Archosauriformes |
Order: | Crocodilia |
Family: | Crocodylidae |
Subfamily: | Osteolaeminae |
Genus: | Osteolaemus |
Species: | O. tetraspis
|
Binomial name | |
Osteolaemus tetraspis Cope, 1861[4]
| |
Range of the dwarf crocodile in green |
The dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), also known as the African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile (a name more often used for the Asian
Characteristics
Dwarf crocodiles attain a medium adult length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), though the maximum recorded length for this species is 1.9 m (6.2 ft). Adult specimens typically weigh between 18 and 32 kg (40 and 71 lb), with the largest females weighing up to 40 kg (88 lb) and the largest males weighing 80 kg (180 lb).
As a result of its small size and heightened vulnerability to predation, this species of crocodile has a heavily armoured neck, back, and tail and also has
Osteolaemus has a blunt short snout, as long as it is wide, similar to that of a Cuvier's dwarf caiman, probably a result of occupying a similar
O. t. tetraspis has lighter colours, a more pointed, upturned snout, and more body armour than O. t. osborni.
Distribution and habitat
Dwarf crocodiles range across
Dwarf crocodiles live from lowlands to mid-altitude in streams, small rivers, swamps, pools and
Biology and behaviour
The dwarf crocodile is a timid and mainly
Dwarf crocodiles are
True to its solitary, nocturnal nature, a dwarf crocodile digs out a burrow in which to hide and rest during the day, which can sometimes have a submerged entrance. An individual lacking the right conditions to do so usually lives between tree roots that hang over the ponds where it lives.
Reproduction
Interacting closely only in
Taxonomy and etymology
The second species has had a somewhat convoluted
A study of morphology published in 2007, and studies of DNA in 2009, 2013 and 2015 indicate that three distinctly different populations of Osteolaemus may merit full species recognition.[18][19][20][21] These are O. tetraspis (Central Africa, except the Congo River Basin), O. osborni (Congo River Basin), and a third possibly unnamed species (West Africa).[19][21][13] Uncertainty exists for the population in Nigeria (between O. tetraspis and the possibly unnamed West African species) as it has not been studied.[13] A fourth clade was found in a study of captives in 2013, but where members of this clade live in the wild is unclear.[20] In some regions the species may come into contact. For example, Cameroon is home to both O. tetraspis and O. osborni.[22]
Etymology
The
The specific epithet, tetraspis, means "four shields", and derives from the Ancient Greek τετρα (four) and ασπίς (shield), as the back of the neck has four large, shield-like scales.
Phylogeny
A 2018
The below cladogram shows the results of the latest study:
Crocodylidae
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(crown group) |
Conservation
The dwarf crocodile is considered
Though some skins are used in local manufacturing of
Dwarf crocodiles are widely kept and bred in zoos. Based on a study of individuals kept in
References
- PMID 34567843.
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Osteolaemus tetraspis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Osteolaemus tetraspis (Cope, 1861)". crocodilian.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Dwarf Crocodile". The Animal Files. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "The African Dwarf Crocodile". h2g2. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ Britton, Adam. "Paleosuchus". Crocodilians: Natural History & Conservation. Crocodilian.com. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-12-656470-9.
- ^ a b c d e "Osteolaemus tetraspis". crocodilian.com. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- .
- ^ a b c d e Pauwels; Barr; Sanchez & Burger (2007). "Diet records for the Dwarf Crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis in Rabi Oil fields and Loango National Park, southwestern Gabon". Hamadryad. 31 (2): 258–264.
- ^ a b c d e Eaton, M.J. (2010). "Dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis" (PDF). In Manolis, S.C.; C. Stevenson (eds.). Crocodiles: Status, Survey and Conservation Action Plan (3 ed.). IUCN Crocodile Specialist Conservation Group. pp. 127–132.
- ^ a b "Weird orange crocodiles found gorging on bats in Gabon's caves". New Scientist. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- ^ Hance, Jeremy (2018-01-29). "Orange cave crocodiles may be mutating into new species". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- .
- ^ Wermuth, H. & R. Mertens (1961). Schildkröten, Krokodile, Brückenechsen. Veb Gustav Fischer Verlag.
- .
- ^ PMID 19056500.
- ^ S2CID 14636510.
- ^ S2CID 82155811.
- .
- PMID 30051855.
- PMID 33907305.