Lateral osteoderms of the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus

Abstract

The article shows morphometry of large and small lateral osteoderms on the Nile crocodile body, which forms into arc-like lines. Length of large lateral osteoderms is 2.52 times greater than small lateral osteoderms, width of large lateral osteoderms is 2.20 times greater than small lateral osteoderms, and area of large lateral osteoderms is 5.59 times greater than small lateral osteoderms. Configuration index (length to width ratio) is similar in large (2.03 ± 0.06) and small (1.92 ± 0.17) lateral osteoderms, but scale range of this factor is less significant in large lateral osteoderms (1.67–2.50), than in small lateral osteoderms (1.00–3.00).