The Enigmatic Dwarf Crocodile Of The Congo

The African continent is commonly known for its large and deadly Nile Crocodile, but much like Asia and the Americas this continent holds many more members that are arguably far more fascinating.

The genus we will be covering today is known as Osteolaemus meaning “bony throat” and today we are going to discuss it.

Belonging to the subfamily Osteolaeminae, also containing the slender snouted crocodile which may have diverged from the Dwarf Crocodile around 20 million years ago.

These animals may be more diverse than previously thought, with potentially three distinct populations one being the african dwarf crocodile, one being Osborn’s Dwarf Crocodile and a final not yet named one.

We will explore the first two in further detail.

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#crocodile #crocodiles #dwarfcrocodile

[trenastidham]

I know this video is a year old, but I am so glad someone is doing videos on the other crocodile and alligator species that are in the world ! All I ever see is the salt water and Nile, some times the American croc, but I want to know about all of them ! Thank you very much !!!

[w花b]

Dwarf crocodiles?? They're too cute I'm about to cry 😭

[derdinohorst]

I know that they vould basicly kill me any day and are with 1.5m still pretty big but bruh.. why are they so cute?

[jointcerulean]

Awesome species, there’s a documentary on the Congo dwarf crocodile osteolaemus osborni by living zoology, and the Congo dwarf crocodile has among the most vibrant colors of all crocodilians, with golden yellow copper craniums similar to the Cuvier’s caimans of South America and have a bit more ever so slightly longer snout that is very broad but slightly more v shaped and don’t have the upturn snout of the African dwarf crocodile, as well as having differences in dentition, and distinctive armored eye lids as well and has a more vaulted skull which the African crocodile has as well but looks more so flatter in Appearance. Also the Congo dwarf crocodile is the most vibrant and easiest to tell apart from the three known dwarf crocodile species, and could be a fourth. Congo dwarf crocodiles can also have the copper golden yellows throughout there body as adults in certain localities. Also the third species is found in the upper Guinean rainforest of west African in countries such as Ghana, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and gambia. Looks very Similar to the African dwarf crocodile osteolaemus tetraspis, but has much more broader and taller snouts. Also dwarf crocodiles are the second most terrestrial crocodile species around today, and species in west Africa have to deal with droughts and when there is no water around, they continue to feed, becoming terrestrial carnivores, and forage all around the rainforest, but mostly at night. Really heavily armored and cool species. They also have very powerful king limbs for high walking and galloping. They are also good at taking hard shelled prey. They would be good rewilding candidate for the fully terrestrial mekosuchus crocs of the South Pacific.

[gojiberrii]

2:21 really? cave-dwelling crocs that eat bats?? you learn something new every day