Scientists Discover Three Distinct African Crocodile Species are Actually Seven

There's not just one species of crocodile in Africa; there's not even just two or three. Scientists have recently discovered that there are at least seven distinct crocodile species located in Africa. The findings reveal a little bit more about the genetic diversity of these fearsome predators.

Scientists still know little about crocodiles deep within Africa. That said, crocodiles are also a part of daily life for people in this region. The animals are traded and consumed as bush meat, which makes them a significant protein source for residents. They also play a major role at the top of the food pyramid by influencing fish and crustaceans.

Despite being part of daily life, though, these crocodile species are difficult to identify by physical characteristics alone. Most non-scientists can barely tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. That's why researchers decided to take a look at skull characteristics in these creatures to learn a bit more about them. More specifically, they examined the slender-snouted crocodile, which is one of the most endangered crocodiles in the world.

Although researchers knew the slender-snouted crocodile was in danger, they didn't realize exactly how rare it was. After their studies, they realized that West African populations of the slender-snouted crocodile do not share the same genetic or specific physical features as those populations in Central Africa. In fact, it's likely the two populations have been separated from each other geographically for at least 7 million years. The two populations are actually two separate species.

"The West African slender-snouted crocodile is actually among the three or four most endangered crocodiles in the world," wrote Matthew Shirley, one of the researchers, in an email. "By finally recognizing that it is a unique species, we are in a much better position to advance its conservation and ensure its future."

The findings are important for allocating conservation funding and effort working to protect species. In addition, the research is leading to helpful information for zoos and aquariums by decoding the correct identification and taxonomy of African crocodiles. Without correct species identification, zookeepers could potentially interbreed these hard-to-distinguish species, rendering them ineffective as founder species for conservation purposes.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.