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THE AFRICAN DWARF (BLACK) CROCODILE

COMMON NAMES:
(West) African dwarf crocodile, Broad-snouted crocodile, Black crocodile, African caiman, Bony crocodile, African broad-nosed crocodile.

DISTRIBUTION:
West and West-central Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierre Leone.

ENVIRONMENT:
Usually inhabit permanent pools in swamps and areas of slow-moving freshwater in rain forests. There have been the occasional reports of African Dwarfs in isolated savannah pools, where burrows are occupied during the dry season. Because they are nocturnal this dwarf species spends most of the day in burrows which are constructed by the crocodile. These burrows are sometimes partially submerged, with the entrance under the water surface. Crocodiles emerge usually at night and associate either close to the water or extensively on the land, particularly in covered and forested areas. The ecology of this species is similar to the New World Cuvier dwarf caimans.

STATUS:
IUCN-International Union of Conservation of Nature (Vulnerable)
Estimated wild population: 25,000 to 100,000

APPEARANCE:
Thickly armoured in the neck, back, and tail. Adult colouration uniformly dark on the back and sides, with lighter brown banding on body and tail of juveniles, and yellow patterning on head. Maximum recorded size is 6.3 feet. Short, blunt snout, more similar in fact to a caiman - this may be due to the fact that This African Dwarf has a similar ecology the dwarf caimans

DIET:
Their diet consists mainly of fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and possibly other prey local to this area. A study has shown that a change in diet over the course of the year - fish during the wet season, when river flooding brings fish into the marshy habitat occupied by the dwarf crocodile. During the dry season, when the fish are not available, the crocodiles survive primarily on crustaceans, and their dietary intake is generally reduced.

BREEDING:
Individuals are generally solitary except during the breeding season. The nesting period starts at the beginning of the wet season (May-June), when mound nests are constructed. Only a small number of eggs are laid (usually around 10. Incubation period last between 85 to 105 days and the female guards the nest and protects the young for an unknown period of time in the water.

CONSERVATION:
This species was classified under CITES Appendix I, where it remains to this day. However, most reports indicate that the species is in no immediate danger throughout most of its range because it is widely distributed in several countries, some of which have high numbers of crocodiles.

The main problem with this species is still lack of reliable and widespread survey data. Without such information, the overall status of the species cannot be determined, and thus the CITES Appendix I classification will remain and the skin of the African Dwarf has little value - and therefore the incentives for management and thus monitoring are low.