One, Into Two
Scientists deserve credit for trying to figure out how the natural world functions.
But sometimes they make mistakes.
For 200 years, they have mistakenly bundled two crocodile species into one, only recently sorting them out as distinct species, Newsweek reported.
Scientists described the new species, the Central African slender-snouted crocodile, and dubbed it Mecistops leptorhynchus in a study recently published in the journal Zootaxa.
Previously thought to be identical to its West African cousin, the new croc is found mostly between Cameroon and Tanzania. It has smaller, softer scales than its relative and also lacks a bony nub on its skull.
Study author Matthew Shirley explained that he and his team had to extensively research the two different reptiles, an arduous process that resulted in him contracting malaria 16 times.
“Basically this involved me running around 14 different African countries from 2006 to 2012, and I have not left the field since,” he said.
The team argued that the two species differentiated eight million years ago after volcanic activity created a mountain boundary in today’s Cameroon.
The discovery, however, means that the West African croc is now critically endangered, with only about 500 remaining.
Researchers hope that the new species designation will help conservationists better protect the creatures and are cooperating with West African governments on a breeding and reintroduction program.
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