West African Dwarf Crocodile

The West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) has a knob on its snout which distinguishes it from its cousin, the Congo dwarf crocodile.

Size: This is the world's smallest crocodile growing up to 190 centimeters.

Life Span: 50-100 years

Color: Brown-green

Continent: Africa

Range: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Habitat: Freshwater, tropical rainforest, tropical grassland

Food: They eat fish, frogs, and crustaceans. All food items are swallowed whole.

Reproduction: The female breeds once a year, laying up to 20 eggs. The incubation period lasts 85-105 days and the female cares for eggs by making a heap of vegetation to keep the eggs warm.

Fun Facts: In the wild, many species of crocodiles are hunted for their skins which are then made into shoes, handbags and wallets. The dwarf crocodile does not have a valuable skin and fortunately has not been hunted for this reason.