Gharials (or Gavialis gangeticus) are a critically endangered species of crocodile native to the rivers of the Indian subcontinent. With recent estimations stating there are just 200 left in the wild, the dwindling population is now restricted to just four stretches of river in Nepal and North India. Their collapse in numbers has been caused by the increase in river pollution reducing the amount of fish in the water, as well as by sand-mining destroying sandbanks that are essential for egg-laying females.
Latin Name
Gavialis gangeticus
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gharial
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Animal Facts
Gharials are named after the growth that males have on their snout which resembles an Indian pot called a ‘ghara’.
Gharials are the only crocodile species that show ‘sexual dimorphism’; the males look different from the females due to their distinctive nose bulb.
Gharials lay the largest eggs of any crocodile species.
Gharials are not aggressive; their long, thin jaws are ill-suited for attacking large animals.
Gharials’ snouts contain sensory cells that detect vibrations in the water, making them excellent fish hunters.