The orange cave dwelling Crocodiles Abanda, Gabon

The orange cave dwelling Crocodiles Abanda, Gabon

Enjoy...Steve...

A UNIQUE DISCOVERY

The Abanda caves in Gabon host a population of cave-dwelling crocodiles. They spent their entire life in these caves and had to adapt to the underground conditions. Who are these unique reptiles living in the caves of Gabon?

How did these crocodiles happen to be trapped in Abanda caves ?

We don't have a definite answer to this question. The Abanda cave network is based on a system of faults. Some of the crocodiles live completely isolated from the exterior, the only access being through a 7 m deep shaft.

We think that entrances existed in the past, but they are now filled with sediments, preventing the crocodiles to escape.

One question needs also to be solved, the reason why these crocodiles initially found shelter in these caves.

How many of them are there?

During our two expeditions in 2010 and 2011, organised by IRD and Foundation Liambissi, we observed twenty individuals in the caves. Almost all of them could be captured by Matthiew Shirley, who measured them, took samples, marked them and released them.

Are they different from the outside crocodiles?

They look very close to the Dwarf Crocodile, (Osteolaemus tetraspis), however, they differ by several points. They are broader, almost blind, and their skin is orange-coloured, which has never been observed in the dwarf crocodile from the exterior.

The biggest captured specimen was 1.70m long. This length is very high for the species and the crocodile must be very old. We observed several individuals more than one meter long.

Our hypothesis to explain their orange colour is a chemical attack of the skin. They live permanently in stagnant water in which fermented feces of bats. The smell is also almost unbearable.

Orange cave-dwelling dwarf crocodile from Gabon next to a regular dwarf crocodile.

And genetically?

These crocodiles live in the absolute darkness. The food is scarce and poorly diversified. We obtained the stomach content by regurgitation and it appears that the cave crocodiles have a very original diet. Whereas outside crocodiles feed on shrimps, crabs, frogs, we found in cave crocodiles' stomachs crickets, bats, insects and a big amount of algae.

What will be the next steps of your research?

We want to know why these crocodiles live in what seems to be an inhospitable environment. Is it to survive a past climate change ? to be protected from predators ? Have they just been trapped there ?

Many questions a new expedition will bring answers.

Source:The Orange Cave-Dwelling Crocodiles of Gabon Follow the link for more pictures and information on the orange cave dwelling Crocodiles.