African Hunts: The West African Slender-Snouted Crocodile

The West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) is a medium-sized crocodile found in West and Central Africa. Its status with the IUCN is that of “critically endangered” and it cannot legally be hunted on African hunts. Loss of habitat, poaching, as well as less available food sources have been listed as reasons for the major reduction in numbers.

The West African slender-snouted crocodile prefers a habitat of rainforests with large bodies of fresh water close by including rivers, streams, and lagoons. One of their main habitats is wildlife reserves in Ghana that have been established to protect this endangered reptile.

This cold-blooded reptile’s diet includes mammals, reptiles, insects, and fish, amongst others. In terms of predators, their young fall victim to a variety of animals and birds, including otters, rodents, birds, and leopards.

The female crocodile lays around 15 eggs in a nest consisting of vegetation and mud, where they incubate for 90-100 days. Upon hatching, the young crocodiles call for their mother, who gently carries them to the water in her mouth.