#West African dwarf crocodile

[arminreindl]

Mooing crocodiles

Some interesting news on croc vocalisation I completely forgot to talk about. A recent paper on the West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) revealed a before unknown diversity in noises it is able to produce. By recording captive animals and comparing the noises made by them to recordings suspected to be those of wild individuals, researchers could identify FOUR new types of calls not seen previously in crocodilians.

These calls range from low frequency sounds like "drums" (short) and "rumbles" (long) to more higher frequency sounds like "gusts" and what the scientists refer to as "moos".

Though the paper itself didn't include sound files (to my knowledge), you can hear the "mooing" sound and some others around the 16 minute mark in this here podcast Podcasts | Weekly: Antimatter falls down; Virtual healthcare comes with a price; What’s causing Europe’s insect apocalypse? | New Scientist

Croc vocalisation is a generally underappreciated field of research that usually gets little attention, no doubt because many pass of crocodiles as silent animals when really they can be quite vocal and have a surprisingly broad range, small forms like the dwarf crocodiles especially. This can even be seen in this study, as the wild sounds were only recorded on "accident" by a study focused on elephants.

Also for those unfamiliar with dwarf crocodiles, here's an image of one.

[meryt-sobek]

Multiple species of crocodilians have been observed playing with flowers. They seem to especially like pink flowers. Play involves carrying flowers in their mouth, pushing them around in the water, or wearing them on the tips of their noses.

[herpsandbirds]

Trick or treat :) !

HAVE I GOT A TREAT FOR YOU!!!

African Dwarf Crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis), family Crocodylidae, found in West-central Africa

This small crocodile species only grows to a length of up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft), on average.

photographs by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

[thagomizersshow]

we're sleeping on how varied crocodilians are in colour and pattern

Yacare caiman

Tomistoma

Cuban crocodile

Cuvier's dwarf caiman

West African crocodile

American alligator

Saltwater crocodile

New Guinea crocodile

[draco-oriens]

What a surprise!

When I was around the age of 7 or 8, I was introduced to sushi and other fish specialities. I started eating clams, raw fish, caviar and cephalopod - anything swimmy. It made me feel at home and made me think I found myself. I couldn't tell why but it's been that great thing. I started calling it my "soul food", having a good impact on me. Celebrating smth? Sushi! Snack? Clams and squid rings! Sad? Sushi!

The actual reason

In my intro, I said that I joined the community in 2009. But it took me loads more time to determine my exact species. When I found out that I'm a West African dwarf crocodile and what they eat, it was so clear that my hunger for fish and other swimmies comes from my true self.

Therianthropy and food

Now, I need to mention that it's no must that you eat the same stuff as your theriotype. I know a vegan lioness, a few carnivorous deers and whatnot. I think that the cravings do have to do smth with your true self, your therioside but not everyone has to indulge in them. And not every therian experiences urges and cravings either. Everyone is different and it's the individuality that catches me, the open-mindness. Nothing is worse than being close-minded.

As an end of this post, I'd like to know of your experiences regarding food and your theriotype's diet.

Does your diet cover that of your theriotype?

Do you find alternatives?

How much do they (human and 'type's) differ?

[a-book-of-creatures]

trick or treat?

You are entrusted with one (1) West African dwarf crocodile

[r0ttingc0yote]

Wow! Your moodboards are really pretty! Can you make one for me, too? West African dwarf crocodile with a book and dark academia theme, pls.

𓂃˶ ✶ ⋆. ˚ ˙𓍼𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜

ᯓ · 𓂃 𐙚 . ꒱ ♡ ╰┈➤ 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝

𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸'𝚖 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚝 !! ^^

[n1teshade]

ℌ𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔬 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰; West African Dwarf Crocodiles are so cute, headcanoning rn that that's the breed the Addamses favour.

[tsunflowers]

west African dwarf crocodile and Madagascar big-headed turtle. I really enjoyed the tusklike teeth of the dwarf crocodile and the name of the big-headed turtle. just call it fourhead

[renellenphotography]

West African Dwarf Crocodile

Location - Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

Taken - Wednesday 12th April 2023

Canon EOS 1300D

[arminreindl]

Two crocodilian species I can finally cross off my bucket list. The critically endangered Philippine crocodile and the West African dwarf crocodile.

[tysonfurybattlepass]

west african dwarf crocodile :)

[herpsandbirds]

African Dwarf Crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis), family Crocodylidae, found in West-central Africa

This small crocodile species only grows to a length of up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft), on average.

photographs by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

[games-gamesdesign]

Species

There are a total of 18 extant species have been recognized.

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

Hall's New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus halli)

Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)

Freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni)

Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii)

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae)

Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Borneo crocodile (Crocodylus raninus)

Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)

West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus)

Osborn’s dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus osborni)

Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)

Central African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops leptorhynchus)

[draco-oriens]

Personal West African Dwarf Crocodile moodboard with book and tropical rainforest theme