Hey! We are Gharial crocodiles and it would be tough to believe that we are a few of 900+ of us surviving in this world. Lucky you! You get to see us. We are not so dangerous crocodiles and there are a few notable things that might interest you. Read below:
- We are fish-eating crocodiles and we just stay motionless with our jaws open in underwater to grab the fish that pass by our jaws.
- We might not be dangerous but don’t underestimate us, we have a strong jaw and a powerful bite force.
- Our name originated from the Hindi word “Ghara” which means pot. This is due to a bulbous growth on our snout. This bulbous growth actually produces hissing and buzzing sound.
- Do you know? Unlike other crocodiles, we don’t live in groups but rather live alone and meet during mating.
- In Hindu mythology, we were said to be the vehicle of Goddess Ganga and Lord Varuna.
- We are known from ancient times; we are found in seals and tablets of Indus Valley Civilization.
- Do you know? Our oldest fossil remains are found to be 2.58 to 5.33 million years.
- Our population has reduced significantly, and we now are mostly found in zoos and breeding centers.
SOME QUICK FACTS:
Our Scientific Name: Gavialis Gangeticus.
Identification: Small crocodiles with thin and long jaw and a bulbous tip on the edge of snout.
Our Habitat: Near riverbanks.
Our Range:
Our Food Habits: Carnivorous; feed on mostly fish, also feed on crustaceans, insects, tadpoles, and frogs.
Our Breeding Period: December and January.
Number of eggs laid: 20-95 eggs.
Our Incubation period: 71-93 days.
Our Lifespan: 50-60 years.
IUCN red list status: Critically endangered.
CITES: Appendix I
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Gavialidae
Genus: Gavialis
Species: G. gangeticus
COMPLETE DETAILS FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are the Gharial and are a crocodile native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent belonging to one of the three native species.
Gharial Crocodiles are also called as gavial or fish-eating crocodiles.Gharial Crocodile are scientifically called as Gavialis Gangeticus.
Let us tell you more about our species.
HOW WE LOOK:
We have extremely long, thin jaws. We are dark or light olive in color and get darker as we age. Our necks are thick and elongated and have extremely short limbs.
When male gharial attains sexual maturity, it develops a bulbous extension on the tip of its snout which makes male differ from a female (sexual dimorphism).
The average size of us is 3.5m – 5m with the female being smaller than male. Our average weight is about 160-250 kg. We have very sharp teeth of about 27-29 on the upper side and 25-26 on the lower side.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We prefer to live near rivers and previously lived in most rivers of the north Indian subcontinent, now we are extinct in the Indus River, in the Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy River.
We are now only found in Nepal and India. In Nepal, small populations can be found near river Ganges and Chitwan and Bardia National parks.
In India, our populations are found in sanctuaries like National Chambal, Katarniaghat and Son River. We are also found in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary where we don’t breed, Corbett Tiger Reserve and Valmiki Tiger reserve.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are carnivores and as our other name suggests, we mostly consume fish. We also eat crustaceans, insects, tadpoles, and frogs.
Our jaws are too delicate to grab larger prey. We hunt fish by lying in and wait for the fish to swim and grab the fish when we get a chance. We do not chew the prey but instead swallows the whole for digestion.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We, like other crocodiles, are territorial and the strongest male of the group dominates over other males for females. We generally advertise ourselves for mates by hissing and buzzing noises.
We usually mate during December and January. The female digs a 50-60 cm hole to lay about 20-95 eggs. These eggs are incubated for 71-93 days. Like other crocodiles, temperature decides the sex of the young. The mother guards the young for some time.
Male young attain sexual maturity at 13 years of age whereas a female attains at about 10-12 years of age. Our average lifespan is 50-60 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
We are not as dangerous as the mugger or saltwater crocodiles but have a quite powerful jaw power.
Our sharp teeth and long, thin snout are well adapted for hunting fish.
We are semi-aquatic. Our flattened tails and webbed feet provide ease in swimming.
Being cold-blooded, we generally bask (lie down exposed to warmth) in the sun and cool down in the water when we get heated up.
OUR CONSERVATION:
We are listed as “critically endangered” in the IUCN red list. The populations are extremely low and as much as 900 individuals including me live in the world.
This significant reduction of population is due to extreme fishing, even in protected areas, construction of barrages, dams, canals and artificial embankments. We were also killed by fishermen for our skins and medicine and our eggs are consumed by people.
We are also listed on CITES Appendix I. In India, project Crocodile began in 1975 and this project assures intensive captive breeding and rearing. We are also protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972 Schedule I.
