The dwarf crocodile is the smallest species of crocodile in the world, growing up to 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) in length. When compared to the largest species, the saltwater crocodile (up to 5.2m/17 feet in length), they really do dwarf in comparison!
Dwarf crocodiles can be found in the mangrove swamps, rainforests and slow moving rivers and streams of West Africa and are mostly active at night when they like to feed on small animals such as fish, insects, lizards, water birds and shrews.
Dwarf crocodiles can lay up to ten eggs at any one time. Good diggers, the females lay their eggs in mounds of soil and vegetation. The female will dutifully guard the eggs until they hatch and will continue to look after the hatchlings once in the water.
The Dwarf crocodile is an African reptile. The area of its distribution stretches from sub-Saharan regions to west-central Africa, from southern Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaching as south as northern Angola. The primary habitat of the Dwarf crocodile is rainforest. The reptile occurs in tropical lowland regions, where the animal inhabits swamps with dense vegetation, slow flowing currents and rivers. In addition, the Dwarf crocodiles are sometimes found in savannah pools.
Credit : Folly Farm
Picture Credit : Google
