West African Crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) is a large carnivorous reptile that lives in the water systems of West and Central Africa. It used to be confused with the Nile crocodile, but modern DNA research has shown that it is a separate species. It is known for its calm nature compared to the Nile crocodile and its smaller size.
📚 Classification
• Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
- Type: Chordate
- Class: Reptilia
- Family: Crocodylia
- Family: Crocodylidae
- Genus: Crocodylus
- Species: Crocodylus suchus
👀 Appearance
- Body length: 3-4 m, sometimes up to 5 m
- Weight: 200-400 kg
- Life expectancy: 50-70 years in the wild
- Snout: relatively short and wide, with numerous nostrils and a dense dentition
The skin is grayish-brown or olive green, with dark spots and small tubercles. The eyes and nostrils are located on the top of the head, allowing it to observe the aquatic environment while remaining almost completely submerged.
🌍 Range and habitat
- Range: West and Central Africa - from Senegal to Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan
- Environment: rivers, lakes, swamps, reservoirs
- In Ukraine: not found
Prefers freshwater bodies of water, often uses shoreline thickets for resting and nesting. It can move overland to other water bodies in search of food or during drought.
🐾 Behavior and social life
- Predominantly solitary predator
- Territorial, especially males
- Active mainly at night, but can hunt during the day
- At rest, it sits in water or on the shore, camouflaging itself among vegetation
The aquatic lifestyle allows avoiding most predators and controlling the population of small animals in water bodies.
🌿 Food
- Main diet: fish, turtles, birds, mammals that approach water
- Sometimes: small crocodiles, carrion
- Hunting methods: ambush, quick attack from the water
The West African crocodile rarely attacks humans compared to the Nile crocodile, but it is still dangerous for local residents.
🐣 Reproduction
- Mating season: dry season
- Laying of eggs: 20-60 eggs in nests made of plant material or sand
- Hatching: 2-3 months
- Sexual maturity: 10-12 years
The female carefully guards the nest and young, helping them to get to the water. Young crocodiles often become food for other predators.
⚠️ Human interaction
- Hunting for skin and meat
- Loss of habitat due to river regulation and cutting down of coastal vegetation
- Use in aquariums and crocodile farms
📉 Conservation status
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- Population: fragmented and gradually declining
- Threats: poaching, loss of habitat, conflicts with people
💡 Interesting facts
✔️ For a long time, it was considered a subspecies of the Nile crocodile, but genetics confirmed a separate species.
✔️ It has a calmer temperament and is less likely to attack people.
✔️ It has a strong jaw that can compress up to 1 ton per square centimeter.
✔️ In times of drought, it can move up to hundreds of kilometers overland.
✔️ Nests can protect an entire pond ecosystem by creating shelters for other animals.
✅ Conclusion
The West African crocodile is an effective predator and an important regulator of freshwater ecosystems. Its protection is important not only for the conservation of the species, but also for the balance of biodiversity in African rivers and lakes 🌊🐊.
