The West African crocodile is considered a nocturnal animal and prefers solitude. The West African dwarf crocodile, as compensation for its small size, has an aggressive temperament as well as a strongly reinforced, thick body covering to protect it from injury. These crocodiles are severely threatened by loss of habitat due to deforestation for logging, agriculture and expanding human settlements. The West African dwarf crocodile is one of the smallest crocodile species in the world. List of Crocodiles in Africa. West African crocodiles are nocturnal(active at night). Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) Mugger crocodiles live in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries. Dwarf crocodiles range across tropical regions of Sub-Saharan West Africa and Central Africa. 16. When fully grown, it's about 5 feet long. Also recognized as … A Nile crocodile looks a lot like a giant lizard. "Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World" is a new exhibition exploring the complex lives of crocodilians — … They’re apex predator species and hardly ever receive any attacks from other species except humans. Like other crocs, these critters are Such a distribution greatly overlaps with that of the slender-snouted crocodile, encompassing countries as far west as Senegal, reaching Uganda in the east, and ranging as southerly as Angola. West African Dwarf Crocodiles are one of the smallest of the crocodilians, and the smallest true crocodile species. The last confirmed record from Uganda was in the 1940s, but whether the species, … It is one of five species of crocodile in Africa, the other four being the Central African slender-snouted, Nile, West African and dwarf crocodiles. There are two species of Nile crocodile including the east African Nile crocodile and the west African Nile crocodile. West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) The West African crocodile isn’t yet determined to be among the vulnerable species. The area of its distribution stretches from sub-Saharan regions to west-central Africa, from southern Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaching as south as northern Angola. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are located on the top of their head which as an apex predator (at the top of the food … It was first described back in 1835, and the first specimen studied by scientists died in a zoo in London. LENGTH. Nile Crocodile Appearance & Behavior. Since it spends a significant amount of time on land far from water foraging for prey (often larger than itself), it is vulnerable for extended periods. It is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, and southern regions of the continent, and lives in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshlands. This crocodile is one of the two species that belong to the genus Mecistops. This species of crocodile, can sometimes reach 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length and females are typically smaller than males. These crocodiles are large and aggressive. The West African dwarf crocodile is the smallest surviving crocodile species in the world. The five species of crocodile found in Africa are: … It is an apex predator. West African Slender-Snouted Crocodile Once they reach their juvenile stage, very large African rock pythons and big cats remain as the only predatory threat to young crocodiles. Perhaps no predator is more deadly to young Nile crocodiles than larger crocodiles of their own species, as, like most crocodilians, they are cannibalistic. West African crocodiles are reptiles with long scaly bodies, short limbs and long muscular tails that help them push through the water. List of Crocodiles in Africa. The five species of crocodile found in Africa are: Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) Central African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops leptorhynchus) Exhibition entrance. West African Dwarf Crocodile - The Animal Facts - Diet, Habitat, … Though they move slowly, dwarf crocodiles are very aggressive and successful at capturing prey. Molecular science is what allowed scientists to establish the fact that it is a distinct species. American AlligatorThe American alligator is a mighty reptile of all-time. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries. 1.) The Dwarf Crocodile is a small species of crocodile natively found in the rainforests of West Africa. The primary habitat of the Dwarf crocodile is rainforest. 2.) They have distinctively thick skin made of scales and strong prominences, which are known as osteoderms. Dwarf crocodiles live from 50 to 100 years. West African crocodiles are considered the apex predator in their environment and as such face no natural predators as adults outside of humans. Being ectothermic (cold-blooded) predators, they have a very slow metabolism, so they can survive long periods without food. Despite their appearance of being slow, crocodiles have a very fast strike and are top predators in their environment. West African crocodiles are carnivores. They live in freshwater habitats. Its body is covered in tough scales that are grayish-brown or olive in color. As this species is only recently elevated to species status studies on their conservation status and related threats are still ongoing. The Dwarf crocodile is an African reptile. 3-4 m. The West African slender-snouted crocodile is a critically endangered species of African crocodile. 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