WHAT IS A GHARIAL?

Gharials are also reptiles in the Crocodylidae family. They live in fresh water, and are only found in parts of India and Nepal. A long, sleek snout that displays rows of very sharp, flesh-tearing teeth, and a bulbous lump on the male’s snout make them different from their cousins. Gharials can grow up to six metres in length.

Physical Description

The gharial is one of only two species in the Gavialidae family. It  has a characteristic elongated, narrow snout, similar only to the tomistoma (previously called the false gharial). Many sharp, interlocking teeth line the gharial’s elongated jaws.

Gharials exhibit sexual dimorphism — or differences in characteristics between males and females of the same species — in both size and appearance. Adult males develop a bulbous growth at the tip of their snout, called a “ghara” after the Indian pot it resembles. The ghara has several functions. It partially covers the crocodiles nostrils and acts as a vocal resonator, creating a loud, buzzing sound when the gharial vocalizes. It is also a visual signal for females, helping males attract a mate.

Because of their weak leg muscles, gharialsare poorly equipped for locomotion on land. Most of their movement takes place in the water. When they do move across land, gharials push their bodies forward across the ground, a motion known as belly-sliding.

Size

The gharial is one of the largest of all crocodilian species, with males reaching 16 to 20 feet (5 to 6 meters) in length. Females typically grow to lengths of 11.5 to 15 feet (3.5 to 4.5 meters).

Native Habitat

Historically, the gharial’s range spanned rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Today, only fragmented populations remain in Nepan and northern India.

Gharials are adapted to an aquatic lifestyle in large rivers, and individuals typically only leave the water to bask and nest on sandbanks.

Food/Eating Habits

Adult gharials primarily eat fish, while juveniles also feed on insects, crustaceans and frogs. The crocodile’s unique snout, along with its sharp, interlocking teeth help it capture prey, quickly striking at fish in the water. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, gharials eat a variety of fish.

Reproduction and Development

Like other crocodilians, gharials are polygamous, with one male defending a territory where he and several females live. Territorial and courting display behaviors include head slapping the water and buzzing vocalizations. Females reach sexual maturity when they are approximately 9.8 feet (3 meters) in length, and males at about 13 feet (4 meters). Mating typically occurs in December and January.

Females dig a nest during the dry season, between March and April, and deposit an average of 40 eggs, which hatch from 60 to 80 days later. As with all crocodilians, the sex of the hatchlings is determined during incubation.  Females, who are protective of their nest and hatchlings, provide the sole parental care.

Credit : Smithsonian’s national zoo & conservation biology institute 

Picture Credit : Google 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *