West African Dwarf Crocodile
West African Dwarf Crocodile
Osteolaemus tetraspis
Tiny and tough, dwarf crocodiles live in shallow streams that flow through tropical forests in western Africa. They crawl onto land to sun themselves and build streamside burrows and nests from rotting plants. Thick, dark scales cover their necks, backs, and tails. Young crocodiles are about 11 inches long at hatching and have a brown-banded tail; mature ones are about as long as an adult human is tall.
Interesting Facts
- Some crocodiles can stay under water for an hour without coming up for air.
- Crocodiles have see-through eyelids they can close to protect their eyes in the water without blocking their vision.
- A special valve in a crocodile’s throat keeps it from swallowing water when it swims with its mouth open.
- Some ancient crocodile species grew to be up to almost 50 feet – that’s longer than a school bus!
- The temperature at which a crocodile egg incubates determines the gender of the infant.