Gharial is a type of Asian crocodile living in clear freshwater river systems. Its long, thin snout helps in sensing the presence of my prey, usually fish, by detecting vibrations in the water. It regulates its body temperature by basking in the sun or resting in shade or water. It has about 106 to 110 razor-sharp teeth. The male of its species sports a large spot on the snout called ‘ghara’.
Gharials are perhaps the most dedicated parents of all reptiles. Females lay eggs in lots of nests close together and guard them from the river. When the eggs hatch, all of the hatchlings join together to form a large ‘creche’.
The females and the males then guard these creches from predators in the water and on the banks of the river. At the first sign of danger the hatchlings will rush to the safety of the nearest adult, often clambering onto their heads for protection.
The damming and diversion of the rivers on which they depend threatens their habitats. The illegal extraction of sand from the riverbanks is destroying their nesting habitats.
The depletion of fish numbers due to overfishing by humans is a major threat, and gharials often died after being caught in fishing nets.
Picture Credit : Google
