Animals nature gharial crocodiles. Gharials do not chew their prey rather they swallow it whole. The gharial is a large sized reptile that is found inhabiting the murky waters of slow moving rivers on the indian subcontinent. Gharials are found in small populations in only a few localities in the northern part of the indian subcontinent. The gharial gavialis gangeticus also known as the gavial and the fish eating crocodile is a crocodilian of the family gavialidae native to the northern part of the indian subcontinent.
Closely related to other crocodilians including crocodiles alligators and caimans gharials have existed on earth for over 200 million years and have changed little in their evolution since. Crocodilians are a group that includes crocodiles alligators caimans and more. In 1977 four nests were recorded in the girwa river of katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary where 909 gharials were released until 2006. Crocodilians are semi aquatic predators that have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs.
Gharial and human interaction. The critically endangered gharial is easily distinguished from other crocodiles because of the long slender snout it shares only with the tomistoma previously called the false gharial. Crocodilians crocodilia are a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles alligators caimans and gharial. Gharial is sympatric with mugger crocodile crocodylus palustris and formerly with saltwater crocodile crocodylus porosus in the delta of irrawaddy river.
Young gharials eat small fish frogs tadpoles and insects. It was misread by europeans who changed the word to gavial. Adults also feed on larger fish and crustaceans. Gharials sometimes called gavials are a type of asian crocodilian distinguished by their long thin snouts.
The word gharial is derived from the word ghara which means mud pot.