Also called: desert crocodile or sacred crocodile (Show more) West African crocodile, (Crocodylus suchus), large species of crocodile inhabiting forested swamps, marshes, freshwater rivers and streams, and even some arid regions of western and central Africa. The West African crocodile is found from Senegal and The Gambia eastward to Somalia and from Chad, Niger, and Mauritania southward as far as Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A few individuals have been found in the vicinity of the lakes in the East African Rift System. The West African crocodile was first described by French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1807, and it was later classified as part of ...(100 of 702 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!