{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"institution":[{"name":"Research Square"}],"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,14]],"date-time":"2025-07-14T16:40:06Z","timestamp":1752511206709,"version":"3.41.2"},"posted":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]]},"group-title":"In Review","reference-count":69,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743379200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,8]]},"abstract":"<title>Abstract<\/title>\n        <p>Challenges in freshwater organism conservation in West Africa are worsened by significant knowledge gaps, even for charismatic species like crocodiles. This study addresses these gaps by assessing crocodile diversity, distribution, and conservation threats in Guinea-Bissau, where existing data is outdated. We used visual surveys, inquiries, molecular barcoding, camera trapping, and bibliographic reviews to investigate crocodile populations. Notably, we found evidence suggesting the Nile crocodile (<italic>Crocodylus niloticus<\/italic>), previously thought extinct in West Africa since about 200 years, may persist in the Cacheu region (Guinea-Bissau). We also confirmed the presence of the West African crocodile (<italic>Crocodylus suchus<\/italic>) in major river basins and coastal lagoons, including the Bijag\u00f3s Archipelago, and the West African dwarf crocodile (<italic>Osteolaemus cf tetraspis<\/italic>) in the southern mainland and the Bijag\u00f3s Archipelago. Habitat loss and deliberate killings were identified as major threats. Standardized surveys and genetic sampling are essential to assess population size, connectivity, and genetic diversity, informing evolutionary studies and conservation planning. Conservation efforts should prioritize habitat protection through community-managed reserves and restoration initiatives. Additionally, engaging local communities to raise awareness and develop conflict mitigation strategies is crucial, particularly in areas with human-crocodile interactions.<\/p>","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-6183800\/v1","type":"posted-content","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T02:37:49Z","timestamp":1743388669000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Diversity, distribution and conservation of crocodiles (Order: Crocodylia) in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa"],"prefix":"10.21203","author":[{"given":"Cristian","family":"Pizzigalli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal;"}]},{"given":"Aissa","family":"Regalla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto da Biodiversidade e das \u00c1reas Protegidas (IBAP)"}]},{"given":"Ana Filipa","family":"Palmeirim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIBIO, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen\u00e9ticos, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Palma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIBIO, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen\u00e9ticos, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Manuel","family":"Lopes-Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIBIO, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen\u00e9ticos, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Orly","family":"Razgour","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK"}]},{"given":"Raquel","family":"Godinho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIBIO, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen\u00e9ticos, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"William Alexandre","family":"Intipe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto da Biodiversidade e das \u00c1reas Protegidas (IBAP)"}]},{"given":"Jos\u00e9 Carlos","family":"Brito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIBIO, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen\u00e9ticos, Campus de Vair\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"}]}],"member":"297","reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1007\/s13280-020-01318-8","article-title":"Scientists\u2019 warning to humanity on the freshwater biodiversity crisis","volume":"50","author":"Albert JS","year":"2021","unstructured":"Albert, J. 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