African
Dwarf Crocodile - Osteolaemus tetraspis
African
dwarf crocodiles are the smallest species of crocodile with a maximum
adult size of about 2 meters (6.5 feet) and the third smallest species of
crocodilian. The only species smaller are Cuvier's dwarf caiman -
Paleosuchus palpebrosus, and Schneider's dwarf caiman - Paleosuchus
trigonatus. These two species reach lengths of 1.5 and 1.7
meters respectively.
All crocodilians have boney plates in their skin called osteoderms located primarily along the back, top of the tail, and the back of the neck. Although the African dwarf crocodile is the smallest crocodilian, it is the most heavily armoured. The genus name, Osteolaemus, is derived from the words Osteon - a bone, and laimos - the throat. Dwarf crocodiles have osteoderms along their back, side, back of the neck, throat, belly. and even the upper eyelids.
The crocodile in the photo is a male measuring just over 1.5 meters (5 feet 3 inches to be exact). He was born in Canada and we hope to pair him up with a female and produce some hatchlings for placement in other zoos.