This species has been dubbed Mecistops leptorhynchus, and characterized in a study published on October 24 in the journal Zootaxa.

It is considered to be the same species as its West African counterpart, Mecistops cataphractus

The animal was, until now, considered to be the same species as its West African counterpart, Mecistops cataphractus, which will retain its original scientific name. The new designation brings the total population of the West African species down enough that it is now considered critically endangered. There are only about 500 individuals left in the wild, estimates Matt Shirley, study lead author and a researcher at Florida International University.

Central African slender-snouted crocs have softer, smoother appearance than their West African cousins, which have larger, heavier scales and rougher skin, Shirley explains. The newly-described crocodile also lacks the bony crests on its skull found on its counterpart.

But the main differences lie in the genes—and these differences are significant. The paper shows the animals’ genetics first diverged more than eight million years ago, as volcanos arose in and around what is now Cameroon. This volcanic activity created impassable mountains that split the range of the reptiles in two, cutting off gene flow, and the two populations haven’t exchanged genes since, says Shirley, a National Geographic Explorer.

This isolation allowed the two species to diverge, and now the base pairs that make up certain important genes differ by more than five percent, he explains.

Central African slender-snouted crocs have softer, smoother appearance than their West African cousins

Scientist have, of course, described other new species of crocodiles in recent years. For example, research by George Amato, at the American Museum of Natural History has shown that dwarf crocodiles are not one but three species. Shirley, Amato, and colleagues also discovered that there are actually two different species of Nile crocodiles.

But M. leptorhynchus is the first species since 1935 to go through the full formal descriptive and naming process, Shirley says. This involved sifting through scores of museum samples from around the world with assistance from colleagues at the University of Iowa and the University of Florida. Shirley himself also did intensive field work in 14 African countries, and got malaria more than a dozen times in the course of the research, he says.

Their job was complicated by the fact that the “type” specimen, the original museum animal used to officially identify any given species, was nowhere to be found for M. cataphractus. That’s the Nazis’ fault: It was likely destroyed when German planes bombed London’s Natural History Museum in World War II, Shirley says. So the researchers had to designate a new one. What’s more, the type specimen for M. leptorhynchus is a juvenile, which muddled the effort, since young crocs are more difficult to identify. 

The newly-described croc also lacks the bony crests on its skull found on its counterpart

The study should help spur conservation work for both types of crocodiles, but especially the West African species. Shirley and colleagues are collaborating with the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana as well as a number of NGOs to breed the animals in captivity and eventually release them to the wild. The largest such effort is taking place at a zoo in Côte d’Ivoire where more than 30 of the animals currently reside.

Habitat loss and poaching affect both species, although there are so few West African slender-snouted crocodiles left, they are almost impossible to find, says Shirley, who spent “months and years” of his life looking for them. In the end, he collected DNA samples from a mere 15 to 20.

The work is more urgent now than ever. “These are genuinely critically endangered,” Shirley says, “and [could] blink out at any moment.”

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This was done 4th January, 2017 after the internationally friendly match against Tunisia in Tunis which the Cranes lost 2-0.

According to fufa.com,the Serbian tactician has included only four locally based players, KCCA trio of Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Joseph Ochaya and Timothy Dennis Awany as well as Fufa Male Player of the Year Muhammad Shaban who plays for Onduparaka.

He however dropped goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan and Muzamir Mutyaba both of KCCA and Edrisa Lubega of Proline in the Ugandan Premier League.

The Cranes will head to Dubai for another training camp that shall involve high profile friendlies against Slovakia on January 8 and Cote d’Ivoire on January 11.

Uganda will open their campaign against Afcon 2015 finalists Ghana on January 17 before facing Egypt four days later at Stade de Port Gentil. They will complete their Group D matches against Mali on January 25 at Stade d’Oyem.

CRANES SQUAD

Goalkeepers:Denis Onyango,Robert Odongkara, Salim Omar Magoola

Defenders: Joseph Ochaya, Murushid Juuko, Isaac Isinde, Denis Iguma, NicholasWakiroWadada, Shafik Batambuze, Timothy Dennis Awany

Midfielders: Tonny Mawejje,Khalid Aucho, Godfrey Walusimbi, Michael Azira, Hassan Mawanda Wasswa, Geoffrey Kizito

Forwards: Junior Yunus Sentamu, Geoffrey Sserunkuma, William Luwagga Kizito, Geoffrey Massa, Moses Oloya, Farouk Miya, Muhammad Shaban

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The draw will involve 16 finalists and will be heavily represented during the ceremony in Libreville at the ASMG Tent in Stade de l’Amitie.

Uganda will be represented by Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic and Commissioner for physical Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports Omara Apita after ending a 38-year wait for a place in the African Nations Cup finals.

The Uganda cranes achieved this by securing a 1-0 win over the Comoros Islands in Kampala on 4th September 2016 to qualify as one of the best runners-up in the 13 qualifying groups for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

A statement by  FUFA Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein confirmed that Micho and  Omara Apita will represent the nation in Gabon.

“FUFA will be represented by both Cranes Head coach Milutin Sredojevic and Commissioner for physical Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports Omara Apita in Gabon” said Hussein

‘Delegations of the 16 finalists at the draw will also conduct a familiarisation tour of the four cities where stadium, Hotel and training grounds are located for 2017 AFCON Finals’, he added.

Uganda is the best ranked country in the East African region and will hope for a good draw.

AFCON 2017 Pots

Pot 1: Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria

Pot 2: Tunisia, Mali, Burkina Faso, DR Congo

Pot 3: Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt

Pot 4: Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau

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This comes after Uganda ended a 38-year wait by qualifying to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as one of two best placed runners-up.

Uganda cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is a proud man at the moment having led Uganda to its first Afcon finals appearance in 39 years but also move the nation from 97th in the rankings up to 65^th.

This is in line with the goals set up by the Serb on his arrival in Uganda in May 2013 to take over the reins from the sacked Bobby Williamson.

“One of my aims is to develop the youth systems, and I want us to move from 97th in the rankings up to 70, and stay there to give our players a chance to play in top European leagues.”

Uganda will better their world ranking if they perform well in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers group in which they were drawn with Egypt, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville.

Mean while,Kenya have dropped 3 places to 91st,Ethiopia follows closely at 125th moving four places up, Burundi are 129 while Tanzania are ranked 132.

Cote D’Ivoire is the best ranked country in Africa at 34th followed by Algeria (35th), Senegal (39th), Ghana (43rd) and Cameroon at 59th globally.

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The Albicelestes move up from third place and replace Germany for the top spot, the first time in seven years.

Argentina have had steady improvements finishing as runners up in the just concluded Copa America tournament.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria react during the Copa America

Meanwhile the new Copa America winners Chile have moved up eight positions, only just missing out on a top-ten ranking at number 11.

New entries in the top ten are Romania (8th, up 4), England (9th, up 6) and Wales (12^th, up to 10^th).

The rankings have been done due to the many matches that have been played: with 26 Copa América matches, 99 qualifying matches for the World Cup or continental tournaments and 88 friendlies with last year’s World Cup matches loosing value.

African Champions, Cote D’Ivoire climbed up from third to second while Algeria still maintained top spot.

2015 AFCON runners up, Ghana climbed from fifth to third, just as Tunisia dropped two places to fourth.

Equatorial Guinea records the biggest move, climbing 69 places from a previous 118 to 49 place and Uganda is now ranked 73 in the world.

full list of men rankings

World champions USA back on top

The USA have reclaimed pole position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking demoting Germany to second place by some distance.

The two heavyweights played each other in the semi-finals in Montreal, with the Americans coming out on top.

full list of women rankings

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