LIBREVILLE, Feb. 1 — A group of an orange variant of African
dwarf crocodiles in remote local caves may be mutating into a new species,
the Guardian reported.
The orange cave crocodile’s diet is different, as it lives on bats and
crickets, and it’s a species that “has adapted to the underground world,”
archaeologist Richard Oslisly was quoted by the report as saying.While
trying to discover signs of ancient humans, Oslisly became the first person
to discover the cave crocodiles in 2008.His research team later caught the
first cave crocodile and carried it outside, and they were shocked to
discover that its skin was orange, instead of gray, the normal color of
African dwarf crocodiles.One third of some 30 discovered cave crocodiles
are orange.
The researchers believe that these orange reptiles are in their older
years, as younger ones can go in and out of the cave more easily, but once
they grow bigger, they tend to spend the rest of their lives in the
darkness.The color change resulted from longtime “bleaching” of the
crocodiles’ skin by an alkaline mix of water and bat guano, the researchers
said.Genetic data also suggest that this cave group split from their
relatives living outside the cave, and they already stand out as an
“isolated genetic group,” the report said.The dwarf crocodile, which nets
considerable prices in local markets, is currently categorized as
vulnerable by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature Red List.
“We are lucky because local people are afraid to enter the caves,” Oslisly
said.Oslisly is now working on turning the area into a wildlife sanctuary
to protect these unique crocodiles, the report said. – XINHUA
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