Slender-snouted Crocodile

Mecistops cataphractus

Also known as African Slender Snouted Crocodile

reptiles3 U.S. zoos
Where to see one
3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold slender-snouted crocodile, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.

Conservation status

Not Evaluated

This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.

About the slender-snouted crocodile

The West African slender-snouted crocodile is a medium-sized African crocodile with a very long, slender snout used to catch fish and small aquatic invertebrates. It occurs widely in West Africa, from southern Senegal to Nigeria, and extends into Cameroon, favouring dense, vegetated water away from human settlements. Adult males typically reach 3 to 4 m in length, and large males reportedly grow up to 4.5 m. It is poorly known in the wild. Its numbers are declining through habitat loss, hunting, depletion of prey and the bushmeat trade, and it appears to have disappeared entirely from several countries where it once lived.

Slender-snouted Crocodile facts

  • The genus name Mecistops probably comes from Greek words meaning longest face.
  • It is one of five crocodile species in Africa, and the Central African form was split off as its own species.
  • Three individuals measuring 2.31 to 2.62 m had a measured bite force of 1,704 to 2,447 N.
  • Researchers are monitoring its distribution with drone surveillance and prerecorded calls that attract it.

Where to see slender-snouted crocodile in the U.S.

3 zoos across 3 states

Find the closest one

Rank the 3 zoos holding slender-snouted crocodile by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.

California· 1

Maryland· 1

Oregon· 1

AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this

Built from each zoo's own published animal list.

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