Gharial

GHARIAL

Scientific Name: Gavialis gangeticus


Crocodiles are the ultimate survivors. Having arisen some 200 million years ago, they have outlived the dinosaurs by some 65 million years. Even humans, the most fearsome predators ever to stalk the Earth, have failed to force into extinction any of the 23 species of crocodilians.




Description:


 Gharial is known as the gavial, a fish-eating crocodile, Gavial del Ganges, Gavial du Gange, Long-nosed crocodile.
The global gharial population is estimated at fewer than 235."Gavial" is a mis-spelling of the word "Gharial" (derived from the Hindi ghariyal) that refers to the ghara (Hindi for "pot") - a swelling around the nostrils of mature males used for communication (sound).




Habitat:

Gharials were once widely distributed in the large rivers that flow in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. These include the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi-Brahmani-Baitrani river systems of Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. They are also thought to have been found in the Irrawady River of Myanmar. 

Today, their major population remain in three tributaries of the Ganges River: the Chambal and the Girwa Rivers in India, and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal. The gharial reserves of India are located in three States – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Physical Description:

The gharial is one of the longest of all living crocodilians, measuring up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft) and it should be noted that this is an extreme upper limit, as the average adult gharial is only 3.5 to 4.5 m (11 to 15 ft) in size. 

With 110 sharp, interdigitated teeth in its long, thin snout, it is well adapted to catching fish, its main diet

Body Weight: 

Average: 159 - 181 kg (350 - 400 lbs), but largest individuals may approach weight of saltwater crocs at 680 kg (1,500 lbs) .

Reproduction:

Females reach sexual maturity around 3 m in length (usually over 10 years old).Males guard a harem of several females. 

The mating period occurs for two months during November, December and into January. 

Nesting occurs in March, April and May (the dry season) where hole nests are dug into seasonally-available riverine sand banks. Between 30 and 50 eggs (average of 37) are deposited into the hole before it is covered over carefully. 

The size of the eggs in gharials is the largest for any crocodilian species, weighing on average 160 grams.