Borneo crocodile

Description

Crocodylus raninus, the Borneo crocodile, is an enigmatic species of freshwater crocodile endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. Its taxonomic status is controversial and unclear: it has been considered by some authors as a synonym of Crocodylus porosus, although a redescription in 1990 and 1992 presented evidence of distinct identity. Crocodylus is a genus of true crocodiles in the family Crocodylidae. The generic name, Crocodylus, was proposed by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768. Crocodylus contains 13–14 extant (living) species and 5 extinct species. There are additional extinct species attributed to the genus Crocodylus that studies have shown no longer belong, although they have not yet been reassigned to new genera. Crocodylus likely originated in Africa and radiated outwards towards Southeast Asia and the Americas, although an Australia/Asia origin has also been considered. Phylogenetic evidence supports Crocodylus diverging from its closest recent relative, the extinct Voay of Madagascar, around 25 million years ago, near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary.