Gharial
A species of Gharial, Also known as Fish-eating crocodile, Indian gavial Scientific name : Gavialis gangeticus Genus : Gharial
Gharial, A species of Gharial
Also known as:
Fish-eating crocodile, Indian gavial
Scientific name: Gavialis gangeticus
Genus: Gharial
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Borade Amit , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae, native to the northern part of the Indian Subcontinent. The global wild gharial population is estimated at fewer than 235 individuals, which are threatened by loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources, and entanglement in fishing nets. As the population has declined drastically in the past 70 years, the gharial is listed as Cri
General Info
Lifespan
60-75 years
Diet
The primary diet of gharial comprises fish and small aquatic vertebrates, proficiently captured using its long, narrow snout. Opportunistically, they consume water birds and small mammals, emphasizing their versatile hunting adaptations.
Appearance
Gharial is a large reptile with a long, slender snout filled with numerous sharp teeth. Its rough, bumpy skin is predominantly olive-grey, with young ones having darker cross-bands. Notably, it possesses a hump on the neck's back. There are no notable differences due to age, gender, or subspecies, although young ones are darker and lose cross-bands as they age.
Behavior
Gharial exhibits a largely solitary lifestyle, with a strong territorial impulse. They are mainly piscivorous, with efficient aquatic adaptations for capturing fish. Notably conspicuous during the mating season, their complex sexual display and courtship rituals are of significant interest. Despite their solitary inclination, they gather in large numbers when nesting, laying eggs in communal grounds.
Population
Increasing
Scientific Classification
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