Tuporyly crocodile [1] - a small reptile of the family of real crocodiles , the smallest of the existing species of this family, and, along with smooth-faced caimans, the smallest representative of the order. Widely distributed in freshwater bodies of West Africa . It is allocated in a separate genus Osteolaemus.
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International Red Book IUCN 3.1 Vulnerable : 15635 |
Content
Appearance
The size of an adult blunt crocodile usually does not exceed 1.5 m, the maximum recorded length is 1.9 m. The color is black, yellow on the stomach with black spots. Young individuals usually have light brown stripes on the back and sides and yellow spots on the head. Due to its small size, this species is at increased risk from predators, as a result it has well-armored sides, neck and tail compared to other crocodiles.
The blunt-crocodile got its name due to its short, blunt face, similar to the face of the Smooth-faced Cayman . This similarity arose, apparently, due to the fact that both species occupy the same ecological niches. The jaws of this species contain 60-64 teeth.
Lifestyle
Dumb crocodile - a secretive and timid animal, leads a nocturnal lifestyle . It feeds mainly on vertebrates and large invertebrates ( snails ), and can eat carrion [2] . It usually hunts in water or on the coast, but in rainy times it goes far from the coast. It digs rather large burrows, in which it hides most of the day. Burrows often have an entrance located below water level. If there are no suitable conditions for digging a hole, it can hide in the roots of coastal trees.
Crocodile females build nests and lay eggs in May – June, with the beginning of the rainy season. Nests usually consist of rotting moist plant material that maintains a stable, elevated temperature inside the nest. Usually, about 10 eggs are laid, in rare cases, up to 20. The incubation period is 85-105 days. The size of the newly hatched cubs is on average 28 cm. The mother guards the nest during the incubation period and the cubs during the time period while they are at maximum risk from predators (birds, fish, mammals and reptiles, including other species of crocodiles).
A blunt crocodile is a little-studied species of crocodiles, the human impact on the state of the population has also been little studied. Although it is hunted due to meat and skin, the skin is considered to be of low quality and is not in great demand. According to some reports, the number is slowly decreasing due to human environmental pressure, but the danger for this species is lower than for other large animals. Therefore, special conservation programs have not been developed.
Subspecies
The blunt crocodile is the only representative of the genus Osteolaemus . It is subdivided into two subspecies :
- Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis (West African blunt crocodile)
- Osteolaemus tetraspis osborni (Osborne's Tailed Snail Crocodile)
The second was considered a separate species until 1961 ( Osteoblepharon osborni or Osteolaemus osborni ), then it was recognized as a subspecies of a blunt crocodile. However, recent studies give some reason to again consider it a separate species.
The stupid crocodile Osbrona lives in the basin of the Congo River, feeds mainly on fish. In the dry season, it eats significantly less, including crustaceans and other invertebrates in the diet. Its color is usually darker and more uniform.
Gallery
Dumb crocodile in Moscow zoo
Dumb crocodile in Moscow zoo
Dumb crocodile in Moscow zoo
In art
Crocodile Gena
Notes
- ↑ Ananyeva N. B. , Borkin L. Ya. , Darevsky I.S. , Orlov N.L. The five-language dictionary of animal names. Amphibians and reptiles. Latin, Russian, English, German, French. / edited by Acad. V.E. Sokolova . - M .: Rus. Yaz., 1988 .-- S. 139. - 10,500 copies. - ISBN 5-200-00232-X .
- ↑ Olivier Pauwels, Brady Barr, Mei Len Sanchez-Barr, Marius Burger. Diet records for the dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis in Rabi Oil Fields and Loango National Park, southwestern Gabon // Hamadryad. - 2007-01-01. - T. 31 . - S. 258–264 .
Links
- Osteolaemus tetraspis (English) . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
- The Reptile Database: Osteolaemus tetraspis (English)
- crocodilian.com: Osteolaemus tetraspis (English)
- zooclub.ru
- Crocodylus tetraspis