Small and discreet!
I love
hiding in water holes in the shade of the huge trees of West Africa’s forests!
I hate
having my eggs stolen by chimpanzees!
About African dwarf crocodile – Sédjè and Togbota
Scientific name :
Osteolaemus tetraspis
Common name :
African dwarf crocodile
Native to :
West Africa (from Guinea to Angola)
Maximum size :
2 meters
Weight :
30-45 kg
Conservation status
Vulnerable (VU)
Characteristics :
robust and stocky, the crocodile’s skin is covered in bony plates; thanks to that it is difficult to use its skin for the leather industry. However, Dwarf crocodiles are killed for their meat and used in traditional medicine. They also tend to disappear in their natural habitat because of the deforestation.
Location in the Tropical Reserve :
vivarium at the entrance
Reproduction :
We know that the female build its nest with plants to create a mound, in which it lays about twenty eggs.
Diet :
carnivorous (small mammals, etc.)
