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A group of scientists has discovered a new species of crocodile in Africa. The Central African Snouted Crocodile, the first new species of "living crocodile" to be discovered in nearly 85 years, was reported in a recent issue of Zootaxa.
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"The African crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) with a slender snout, a sharp nose, is medium in size and lives in freshwater habitats. His muzzle is long, as his name suggests, Tropical Conservation Institute of Florida International University, said.
"At first glance, slender snouted crocodiles from West Africa and Central Africa seem pretty similar," said the group of scientists in the research papers. "In addition to the differences in their DNA, we found differences in the shape and scales of the skull that strongly support the existence of two species."
The new species is mainly threatened by habitat loss, hunting and overfishing.
"Recognizing the slender-headed crocodile as composed of two different species is a major concern for conservation," said Shirley. "We estimate that only 10% of Slender-snouted crocodiles are found in West Africa, reducing their population by 90%. This makes Slender Snout Crocodile from West Africa one of the most endangered crocodile species in the world. "
The crocodile habitat extends from the Cameroonian coastline to the west of Tanzania. The species was observed for the first time in 1824, but slender snouted crocodiles tend to live in very isolated freshwater areas and are well camouflaged in thick vegetation to avoid human interference.
"When we analyzed the DNA and physical characteristics of crocodiles in the wild and in captivity in six African countries, we found two distinct species of slender-nosed crocodiles: one unique in West Africa and the other in Central Africa. "
Genetics shows that the two fangs diverged about 8 million years ago. The team of scientists was able to collect only samples of 15 to 20 animals.
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