Osteolaemus

Osteolaemus
	Dwarf crocodile
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauromorpha
Clade:	Archosauriformes
Order:	Crocodilia
Family:	Crocodylidae
Subfamily:	Osteolaeminae
Genus:	Osteolaemus ; Cope, 1861
Type species
	Osteolaemus tetraspis ; Cope, 1861
Species
	2, see text.

Last updated March 18, 2025

Osteolaemus is a genus of crocodiles.^[1]^[2]^[3] They are small, secretive crocodiles that occur in wetlands of West and Middle Africa. They are commonly known as the African dwarf crocodiles.^[2] Unlike other crocodiles, Osteolaemus are strictly nocturnal.^[3]

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.^[1]

Genus **Osteolaemus** – Cope, 1861 – two species
Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Congo 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	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.^[2]

References

1 2 Osteolaemus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 January 2023.
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.
1 2 Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. pp. 550–552. OCLC 839312807.

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[RDB-1] 1 2 Osteolaemus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 January 2023.

[Eaton_et_al._2009-2] 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.

[Vitt_and_Caldwell_2014-3] 1 2 Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. pp. 550–552. OCLC 839312807.

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