Osteolaemus

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]

Osteolaemus
Dwarf crocodile
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauria
Order:	Crocodilia
Superfamily:	Crocodyloidea
Family:	Crocodylidae
Subfamily:	Osteolaeminae
Genus:	Osteolaemus Cope, 1861
Type species
Osteolaemus tetraspis Cope, 1861
Species
2, see text.

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]