science

Osteolaemus osborni

Osteolaemus osborni is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Osteolaemus osborni rather than just read about it. In short: Osteolaemus osborni, commonly known as Osborn's dwarf crocodile and the Congo dwarf crocodile, is a species of crocodile endemic to the Congo Basin in Africa. Taxonomy The species Osteolaemus osborni has had a somewhat convoluted taxonomical history.

Key takeaways

Osteolaemus osborni belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Osteolaemus osborni to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Osteolaemus osborni from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Osteolaemus osborni, commonly known as Osborn's dwarf crocodile and the Congo dwarf crocodile, is a species of crocodile endemic to the Congo Basin in Africa.

Taxonomy The species Osteolaemus osborni has had a somewhat convoluted taxonomical history. It was first described as Osteoblepharon osborni by American herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt in 1919, based on a few specimens from the Upper Congo River Basin in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, American herpetologist Robert F. Inger in a 1948 paper found the specimens wanting of characteristics that would justify a generic separation from Osteolaemus and referred the specimens to Osteolaemus osborni. In 1953, it was reduced to subspecies rank by German herpetologist Heinz Wermuth, but was revalidated to full species status in 2021.

Description Osteolaemus osborni is both the smallest crocodile and the smallest crocodilian since it does not surpass 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in total length (tail included).

Reproduction Osteolaemus osborni is oviparous.

Etymology The generic name, Osteolaemus, means "bony throat", and is derived from Ancient Greek όστεον (ósteon), meaning "bone", and λαιμός (laimós), meaning "throat". The genus was named as such due to the osteoderms found among the scales in the neck and belly. The specific epithet, osborni, is in honor of American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Osteolaemus osborni

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Osteolaemus osborni claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Osteolaemus osborni before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Osteolaemus osborni ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Osteolaemus osborni

In research: Osteolaemus osborni appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Osteolaemus osborni in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Osteolaemus osborni is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Archosaur stubs, Crocodilians of Africa, Crocodylidae, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Osteolaemus osborni outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Osteolaemus osborni in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Osteolaemus osborni means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Osteolaemus osborni out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Osteolaemus osborni in simple terms?

Osteolaemus osborni, commonly known as Osborn's dwarf crocodile and the Congo dwarf crocodile, is a species of crocodile endemic to the Congo Basin in Africa. Taxonomy The species Osteolaemus osborni has had a somewhat convoluted taxonomical history.

Why does Osteolaemus osborni matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Osteolaemus osborni?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Osteolaemus osborni.