# False Gharial (*Tomistoma schlegelii*) The False Gharial looks a bit like the Gharial but is a bit different! They also love to swim and catch fish. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and swamps - **Also known as:** Sunda Gharial, Tomistoma ![False Gharial](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424495/objects/5646.jpg) ## Appearance The False Gharial has a distinctive long, slender snout, much narrower than other crocodilians. Its body is generally dark reddish-brown to grayish, adorned with dark bands and spots, especially on its tail. It can be distinguished by its relatively smooth, unridged scales and lighter underbelly. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Crocodylia - **Order:** Crocodylia - **Family:** Crocodylidae - **Genus:** Tomistoma ## Interesting facts - Female False Gharials build large mound nests from plants and soil to keep their eggs warm. - Its name "False Gharial" comes from its gharial-like snout, but it's more closely related to true crocodiles! - Some local people once believed these mysterious reptiles guarded the entrances to hidden underwater kingdoms. - Unlike most crocodilians, its scales are relatively smooth, not heavily ridged. ## Special abilities - **Ambush Master:** False Gharials can wait perfectly still underwater, using their camouflaged skin to ambush unsuspecting prey from the murky depths. - **Powerful Jaws:** Despite its slender snout, the False Gharial possesses strong jaw muscles to crush the bones of larger prey like mammals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 250-500 cm - **Weight:** 50-250 kg - **Lifespan:** 60-80 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 20-60 - **Incubation:** 90-100 days - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m ## Diet & Feeding A stealthy hunter, it eats many fish, but also enjoys birds, mammals, and even crustaceans! - **Age differences:** Younger False Gharials primarily eat insects and crustaceans, while adults tackle larger fish, birds, and mammals. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crustaceans, snakes, birds, small mammals - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Common Carp](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-carp) (*Cyprinus carpio*) — A key part of its diet as an aquatic predator. - **Hunts:** [Long-tailed Macaque](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-macaque) (*Macaca fascicularis*) — Large adults occasionally prey on monkeys at the water's edge. - **Eaten by:** Water Monitor (*Varanus salvator*) — Lizards sometimes raid nests to eat False Gharial eggs. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify False Gharial? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is False Gharial? 250-500 cm ### How much does False Gharial weigh? 50-250 kg ### How long does False Gharial live? 60-80 years ### How fast can False Gharial move? 12 km/h ### What does False Gharial eat? A stealthy hunter, it eats many fish, but also enjoys birds, mammals, and even crustaceans! ### How fast can False Gharial swim? 15 km/h ### Where is False Gharial usually found? Freshwater rivers and swamps ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Dresden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dresden) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [False Gharial: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/false-gharial)