West African Dwarf Crocodiles
Stillness is a strength if you’re a crocodile. We are home to male ‘Papa’ and female ‘Mama’.
Meet one of the world’s smallest crocodiles
West African dwarf crocodiles were built for hunting, with a heavily armoured body covered in bony plates known as osteoderms. With nostrils placed high on their snouts and a see-through eyelid known as a nictitating membrane, crocodiles can stay submerged in the water for up to an hour. This species typically hunts at night and swallows its prey whole.
- IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (at high risk of extinction in the wild)
- Type: Reptile
- Habitat: Desert along the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea
- Diet: Carnivore – fish, amphibians, and birds
- Size: Up to 2 metres long
- Weight: 18 to 31 kilograms
facts about our animals
Fun Facts about West African Dwarf Crocodiles
This species grows darker in colour as it ages.
West African dwarf crocodiles can seal their ears shut when underwater.
Like all reptiles, this species will bask in the sun to warm up.
The temperature at which eggs are incubated will determine if males or females will be produced.
Throughout its life, a West African dwarf crocodile replaces its lost teeth.
Young crocodiles reach maturity at about five or six years of age.
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