gavials

Gavials are a small group of crocodilians distinguished by their extremely long, narrow snouts. The term gavial commonly refers to the gharial, Gavialis gangeticus, the sole living member of the genus Gavialis and the family Gavialidae. The false gharial, or Tomistoma, belongs to a related lineage, Tomistomidae, and is not a true gharial.

Gharials have elongated jaws lined with numerous sharp teeth, well adapted for catching fish. Males develop a bulbous organ called a ghara on the tip of the snout, which enlarges during vocalization and courtship. Juveniles lack the ghara, and both sexes lead largely aquatic lifestyles with a strong reliance on river habitats.

Historically widespread across river systems of the Indian subcontinent, gharials today occur mainly in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, with a few populations in parts of Myanmar. They prefer large, clear, fast-flowing rivers and deep pools where fish are abundant.

Reproduction occurs on sandy riverbanks where females lay eggs in nests. After incubation, hatchlings emerge and feed on small fish and aquatic invertebrates; parental care is limited, but females may guard nests. Clutch size and incubation period vary with environmental conditions.

Conservation status is critically endangered in many assessments due to habitat degradation, dam construction, river regulation, sand mining, and depletion of fish prey. Conservation efforts include habitat protection and restoration, captive breeding and reintroduction programs, and trade controls under CITES and national laws.