African Dwarf Crocodile
Osteolaemus tetraspis
The dwarf crocodile is the smallest crocodilian in Africa and spends much of the day hidden among vegetation or inside burrows dug along riverbanks. Active mainly at night, it hunts fish, crustaceans, amphibians and other small animals. Although it is still found across parts of West and Central Africa, it is threatened by the loss of forests and wetlands, as well as hunting for its meat and skin.
IUCN RED LIST
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies living species according to criteria that take into account their level of threat of extinction: the Red List is an indispensable tool for coordinating nature conservation actions, a veritable barometer of the health of our Planet.
EEP Project
This species is included in EAZA’s (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) EEP programme for breeding endangered species.
Lives in west-central Africa
Fun Fact
The name comes from the fact that, compared to other crocodiles, it is very small: it reaches a maximum length of 1.9 metres. It is not its skin that is considered valuable, but its meat.
Gli animali che vivono nella stessa area geografica
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