Dwarf crocodile

Timid nocturnal with broad snouts native to Africa, they are the smallest of all crocs

Tambako The Jaguar


Dwarf crocodile

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Timid nocturnal with broad snouts native to Africa, they are the smallest of all crocs

Population 25,000 – 100,000

African dwarf crocodiles, once assumed to be a single species, are now believed to represent two separate species. Despite their diminutive size, these crocodiles have a rich evolutionary history that dates back over 20 million years when they diverged from their closest relatives, the slender-snouted crocodiles. With their maximum length rarely exceeding 1.5 meters (4.9 ft), African dwarf crocodiles are among the smallest crocodilians in the world.

These crocodiles inhabit a variety of freshwater and brackish habitats across West Africa, including mangrove swamps, rainforests, and slow-moving rivers and streams. Their predominantly nocturnal habits see them spending much of the day resting in burrows or concealed within dense vegetation along the water’s edge, emerging under the cover of darkness to hunt and forage for food. Despite their small size, African dwarf crocodiles play a significant ecological role within their ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and maintaining balance within aquatic food webs.

However, African dwarf crocodiles face numerous threats to their survival, primarily driven by human activities. The widespread hunting of these crocodiles for bushmeat and commercial trade poses a significant challenge to their populations, with their meat being highly valued and sought after in local markets. Additionally, habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion further exacerbate the pressures on these species, leading to habitat fragmentation and dwindling population numbers.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Angola
1996
Benin
1996
Burkina Faso
1996
Cameroon
1996
Central Af. Rep.
1996
Congo-Brazzaville
1996
Côte D’ivoire
1996
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
1996
Gabon
1996
Gambia
1996
Ghana
1996
Guinea-Bissau
1996
Guinea
1996
Liberia
1996
Nigeria
1996
Senegal
1996
Sierra Leone
1996
Togo
1996
Uganda
1996
Presence Uncertain, Origin Uncertain

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No