Scientific Name: Mecistops cataphractus

Common Names: Slender-Snouted Crocodile

Maximum adult length: 4m

N.B. Exceptionally large specimens can be found in all species of crocodilian.

The Slender-snouted crocodile is a narrow-snouted, medium sized species native to freshwater habitats in central and western Africa. They are a very shy and secretive species and consequently in 1996 the IUCN rated them as ‘Data Deficient.’ In 2014 this was reviewed and Slender-Snouted Crocodiles were listed as ‘Critically Endangered.’ In 2018, it was determined that this species is actually comprised of two separate species: one in West Africa, the other in Central Africa. The second species was named Mecistops leptorhynchus.