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Osteolaemus osborni
Species of reptile From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Osteolaemus osborni, commonly known as Osborn's dwarf crocodile, is a species of crocodile endemic to the Congo Basin in Africa.
This species has had a somewhat convoluted taxonomical history. It was first described as Osteoblepharon osborni by Schmidt in 1919, based on a few specimens from the Upper Congo River Basin in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Inger in a 1948 paper found the specimens wanting of characteristics that would justify a generic separation from Osteolaemus and referred the specimens to Osteolaemus osborni. In 1961, it was reduced to subspecies rank,[2] but was revalidated to full species status in 2021.[3]
The Congo dwarf crocodile (O. osborni) is both the smallest crocodile and the smallest crocodilian since it does not surpass 1.2 m (3.9 ft).[4]
The specific name, osborni, is in honor of American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn.[5]
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