African slender-snouted crocodile  (Mecistops cataphractus)

Description

The African slender-snouted crocodile is among the least known of the world’s crocodilians (5). Its defining feature is its extremely slender snout, devoid of any bony ridges (6). The leathery skin of the adult is brownish-yellow with large black spots, and the olive coloured head is spotted with brown. Young crocodiles are greenish-grey to greenish-yellow in colour with black blotches and markings (6). Six or so rows of tough scales run down the crocodile’s back, leading to the species name cataphractus, meaning ‘clad in armour’ in Greek (6).

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