Natural History Wanderings

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The Nile crocodile has been divided into two species: the large east African Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and the smaller west African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus).  The larger Crocodylus niloticus is more closely related to four species of Carribbean crocodile than to Crocodylus suchus.  Crocodiles are usually difficult to tell apart by exterior features but researchers have identified that the two African species have genetic differences as well as different skulls and scale patterns. Read more at Nature News: Nile crocodile is two species