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FAMILY:
ALLIGATORIDAE

A. mississippiensis
A. sinensis
C. crocodilus
C. c. apaporiensis
C. c. fuscus
C. latirostris
C. yacare
M. niger
P. palpebrosus
P. trigonatus

FAMILY:
CROCODYLIDAE

C. acutus
C. intermedius
C. johnstoni
C. mindorensis
C. moreletii
C. niloticus
C. novaeguineae
C. palustris
C. porosus
C. rhombifer
C. siamensis
O. tetraspis
T. schlegelii

FAMILY:
GAVIALIDAE

G. gangeticus

DICHOTOMOUS KEY
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Osteolaemus tetraspis

Juvenile dwarf crocodiles have prominent and distinctive markings, normally being quite dark with distinctive black circular markings on their lower jaws. Adult crocodiles lose much of this colour, although it can take many years for this to happen. Dwarf crocodiles have prominent, dark brown eyes as juveniles. This colouration aids the crocodiles well in their natural habitat, which is often dark and sheltered pools within canopy forest. Spotting a dwarf crocodile takes skill, especially as they tend to hide in burrows under the sides of banks or around tree roots.

Photograph © Adam Britton

ALL IMAGES:
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Adult O. t. tetraspis Head of adult crocodile Dorsal view of O. t. tetraspis
Adult O. t. tetraspis Juvenile O. tetraspis being held Adult head in water






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