CROCLIST: African Dwarf Crocodiles
Steve Grenard
sgrenard at si.rr.com
Mon Apr 2 05:27:40 CEST 2007
There was a tetraspis in the Lincoln Park Zoo, acquired in 1940 and still
alive in 1990 (50+ years
old) that has the yellow eyes and a broad, allligatorine snout. I found a
similar specimen, they were both
about 5 ft long, at Atagawa. All have the characteristic bony protrubences
over the eyes. The specimens
which were captive bred in Florida can be seen at:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/!otet1.htm
and seem to be the deep brown variety w/yellow bands you describe. These
photos are of a juvenile, not
an adult as indicated.
The only thing I can think of regarding importation is that current captive
breds originate from stock which were
imported before their importation was prohibited. Given their long life this
is not unlikely....and, of course.
they could be smuggled, even through another country and/or misnamed as
caimans.
At one time they were Europe's answer to baby alligators so tourists could
have also brought them back
before importation regulations were tightened.
Steve Grenard
-----Original Message-----
From: croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com
[mailto:croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com]On Behalf Of paul Bxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 8:35 PM
To: croclist at lists.gatorhole.com
Subject: RE: CROCLIST: African Dwarf Crocodiles
I am curious how could dwarf crocodiles get imported into the USA? Don Boyer
from the San Diego Zoo and I looked into bringing some captive bred animals
from Canada and could not do so, a few years ago,due to USFW strict
regulations. USFW requires a conservation plan active with the species "x"
in the country of origin
My collection has five unrelated females which should produce eggs this
year, although it is early in the year, some have already started courtship
rituals. Perhaps the largest unrelated USA captive population of
Osteolaemus.
There appears to be at least two distinctive "forms" in USA captive
populations. Most notable in the hatchlings. Certian forms and
copper/brown/golden bands with the upturned snout and dark blackish/brown
eyes, the other form is black/deep brown/bright yellow bands with light
yellow eye coloration and wide snouts similiar to an alligator/common
caiman.
Truly,
Paul Bodnar
>From: "Steve Grenard" <sgrenard at si.rr.com>
>Reply-To: The Crocodilian List <croclist at lists.gatorhole.com>
>To: "The Crocodilian List" <croclist at lists.gatorhole.com>
>Subject: RE: CROCLIST: African Dwarf Crocodiles
>Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 21:10:38 -0500
>
>too bad. I was going to ask you when you got them if the dorsal scales were
>keeled or smooth. I found an old picture from the AMNH
>taken by Herbert Lang in 1933 captionned "smooth-backed crocodle named for
>Osborn" (Henry Fairfield Osborn.
>a co-founder and Director of the Museum). The photo was taken in the Congo.
>If you are getting tetraspis they will be keeled or rough backed.
>
>Tom Crutchfield who bred dwarf crocs on his property in Florida told me he
>didn't buy the smooth scaled versus rough as a definite diagnostic because,
>he
>said, as burrowers these crocs "wore down" their keels. But if you were
>getting baby osborni and they were smooth scaled that would be
>very interesting. Does anyone have any further input on this?
>
>Steve Grenard
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com
>[mailto:croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com]On Behalf Of Cameron Cruz
>Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 7:20 PM
>To: The Crocodilian List
>Subject: Re: CROCLIST: African Dwarf Crocodiles
>
>
>sorry ment O.t.t. by bad.....
>
>Donny <donny039 at wowway.com> wrote:
> Cameron,
> Im sorry I havent got back to you withthe info you requested, I will get
>on it within the next day or 2, but really there isnt much differant to
>care
>of Dwarfs than other species.
>
> I have been keeping Dwarf croc's indoors in Michigan, this is the more
>pacific info that you will need as 99.9% of other keepers have there
>Dwarf's
>outdoors in FL
>
> Also, on another note ... where are you getting Osteolaemus t. osborni
>from? There are no legal osboni in the USA as far as I am aware, There is
>only O. t. tetraspis, and there is 1 single "odd" dwarf crocodile in the
>USA
>this odd animal is a yet un-named Dwarf Crocodile sub-species.
>
> O. t. osboni, have typical type crocodile snouts (not up turned), these
>animals look VERY similar to Smoothfront Caiman.
>
> If the Dwarf's you are getting are in fact osborni, I would keep that
>quiet.
>
> Best Regards,
> Donny
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cameron Cruz
> To: croclist at lists.gatorhole.com
> Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 12:52 AM
> Subject: CROCLIST: African Dwarf Crocodiles
>
>
> I am getting a pair of african dwarf crocodiles "o.t.o" and was
>wondering if anyone has a captive care info for them, also what can I do as
>far as conservation of this species? Should I keep logs on the animals? Any
>info would be greatly apperciated.
>
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