Osteolaemus

Osteolaemus
A dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis, in a Paris aquarium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodylia
Family: Crocodylidae
Subfamily: Osteolaeminae
Genus: Osteolaemus
Cope, 1861
Type species
Osteolaemus tetraspis
Cope, 1861
Species

Osteolaemus (from Ancient Greek όστεον (ósteon), meaning "bone", and λαιμός (laimós), meaning "throat") is a genus of crocodiles. They are small, secretive crocodiles that occur in wetlands of West and Middle Africa. They are commonly known as the African dwarf crocodiles. Unlike other crocodiles, Osteolaemus are strictly nocturnal.

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.

Genus Osteolaemus – Cope, 1861 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Congo dwarf crocodile, Osborn's dwarf crocodile

 Osteolaemus osborni
(Schmidt, 1919)		 Congo River basin of Central Africa Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
dwarf crocodile, African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile, bony crocodile

 Osteolaemus tetraspis
Cope, 1861		 West Africa and Ogooué River basin of Central Africa
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  VU 


Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Osteolaemus.

Molecular data suggest that Osteolaemus tetraspis consists of two lineages that would warrant recognition as distinct species.

References

  1. 1 2 Osteolaemus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Eaton, Mitchell J.; Martin, Andrew; Thorbjarnarson, John; Amato, George (2009). "Species-level diversification of African dwarf crocodiles (genus Osteolaemus): A geographic and phylogenetic perspective". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 50 (3): 496–506. Bibcode:2009MolPE..50..496E. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.009. PMID 19056500.
  3. 1 2 Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Amsterdam: Academic Press. pp. 550–552. OCLC 839312807.

Further reading