---
title: "Dwarf Crocodile"
description: "Osteolaemus tetraspis — Reptiles. The dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), also known as the African dwarf crocodile, West African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile (a name more often used for the Asian mugger crocodile) or bony crocodile, is an African osteolaemine crocodile that is also the smallest extant living species of crocodile."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/dwarf-crocodile
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Dwarf Crocodile

> Osteolaemus tetraspis — Reptiles. The dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), also known as the African dwarf crocodile, West African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile (a name more often used for the Asian mugger crocodile) or bony crocodile, is an African osteolaemine crocodile that is also the smallest extant living species of crocodile.

- Scientific name: *Osteolaemus tetraspis*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest), `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers), `jungle` (Jungle)
- iNaturalist observations: 587
- Wikidata: [Q244349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244349)
- iNaturalist taxon: [26138](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/26138)

## Names

- en: Dwarf Crocodile
- de: Stumpfkrokodil
- es: Cocodrilo enano africano
- fr: Crocodile nain
- nl: Breedvoorhoofdkrokodil
- pt: Crocodilo-anão
- pl: Krokodyl krótkopyski

## Countries with the most observations

NG (124), GH (77), GA (33), CI (13), LR (11), CM (10), CG (7), BJ (5), SL (3), ZA (3)

## Summary

The dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), also known as the African dwarf crocodile, West African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile (a name more often used for the Asian mugger crocodile) or bony crocodile, is an African osteolaemine crocodile that is also the smallest extant living species of crocodile.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_crocodile

## Photo

![Dwarf Crocodile](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/dwarf-crocodile/medium.jpg)

Photo: Ben Keen · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/200393221

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/dwarf-crocodile?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).