Wait! What! Bat-eating crocodiles have started to mutate into a new species!

Despite unprecedented advancements in science, technology and innovation, nature hides some of its mysteries and when they are revealed out in the open, we are amazed.
This article aims to shed light on one of these astonishments!

The curious case of cave crocodiles!

THE Abanda Caves are a cave complex in Gabon, located upstream of the Fernan Vaz lagoon. First mentioned by Dr. Marco Marti and Claude Werotte in the early 2000s, these caves have been fully explored during several speleological expeditions by Oslisly, Testa, Sebag and Shirley. Deep inside these caves in Gabon lies a remarkable discovery that testifies to the incredible adaptability of nature.
A unique species of dwarf crocodile, trapped in underground caverns for millennia, has evolved distinctive traits that set it apart from its surface-dwelling relatives.

The discovery of cave crocodiles:

In 2008, archaeologist Richard Oslisly stumbled upon an extraordinary sight in the Abanda Caves in Gabon. Hidden in the darkness, a population of dwarf crocodiles had taken up residence in these damp and isolated rooms. These reptiles, believed to have been isolated for around 3,000 years, have undergone remarkable changes to survive in their unique habitat.
Unlike their forest cousins, these cave-dwelling crocodiles have adapted to a life without sunlight. This adaptation is particularly notable because most crocodiles rely on sunlight to regulate their metabolism. The ability of these cave dwellers to thrive in perpetual darkness showcases the extraordinary plasticity of life.
Interestingly, this adaptation to cave life reflects the resilience observed in other species facing harsh environments.

How are they different from forest crocodiles?

Cave crocodiles were only first studied in 2010, and a 2016 study comparing them to their forest counterparts showed several differences between the two. Their diets are very different, with cave crocodiles feeding almost exclusively on crickets and bats clinging to cave walls.
They found that cave crocodiles were generally in better condition than those living in the forest, which the team said is likely due to the abundance of available prey and lack of predators. They suggest that cave crocodiles lay their eggs at cave entrances, then the juveniles venture out into the darkness. Once they reach adulthood, it is believed that they barely leave the caves.

Why “orange”?

According to lead author Matthew Shirley, a conservation biologist at Florida International University, who told National Geographic in 2018, the unusual orange skin seen on adult crocodiles could be the result of the time they spent swim in bat guano, rich in urea. Over time, the study authors write, this exposure appears to cause chemical bleaching of the crocodiles’ skin.

What do they eat?

One of the most striking and interesting adaptations of these cave-dwelling crocodiles is their diet. While living inside caves and being unable to access their usual prey, these crocodiles switched from fish to a menu consisting mainly of bats and crickets. This dietary change highlights the crocodiles’ ability to adapt their hunting and feeding behaviors to their new environment.

Genetic evolution:

The genetic analysis of these crocodiles holds even more surprises.
Blood samples from 30 to 40 specimens showed that these cave crocodiles developed a distinct genetic makeup compared to their surface-dwelling relatives. This genetic divergence suggests that isolation led to the evolution of unique traits adapted to their subterranean lifestyle.
Intriguingly, according to a 2018 Guardian article, this genetic analysis suggests that orange cave crocodiles could be mutating. Researchers told the Guardian that a haplotype (a group of DNA variants inherited from a parent) found in cave crocodiles was not present in forest crocodiles. Study co-author Richard Oslisly, a researcher at the French Institute of Research for Development, told the Guardian: “The (crocodiles in) the Abanda caves stand out as an isolated genetic group.”
This genetic change proves that cave crocodiles are evolving into a new species. According to Shirley, who told National Geographic: “Because of this isolation and the fact that few individuals are coming in or out, they are (becoming) a new species. Whether that happens soon or not is up to the individual. guess.”

Highlights:

Name: Troglodyte dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
Where he lives: Abanda cave system, Ogooué-Maritime province, Gabon
What he eats: Cave crickets and bats
Why it’s awesome: Deep within one of Gabon’s cave systems lives an unusual population of orange dwarf crocodiles. They live in complete darkness, feast on bats, and swim in liquid guano (aka bat droppings.)