# Gharial (*Gavialis gangeticus*) The Gharial has a long, thin snout that helps it catch fish! They are friendly and prefer to stay near water. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Rivers in India and Nepal - **Also known as:** Fish-eating Crocodile, Gharial Crocodile ![Gharial](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424817/objects/5645.jpg) ## Appearance The Gharial has a distinctive, very long and thin snout lined with many sharp, interlocking teeth. Its body is greenish-brown with darker bands, and males develop a bulbous growth called a 'ghara' on the tip of their snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Crocodylia - **Order:** Crocodylia - **Family:** Gavialidae - **Genus:** Gavialis ## Interesting facts - Baby gharials stay with their mother for several months after hatching! - Despite being very long, their legs are too short to walk very well on land! - Male gharials have a special bulb on their nose that helps them make a buzzing sound! - Their jaws are too delicate to fight large prey, so they only eat fish! ## Special abilities - **Snappy Snout:** Gharial has a long, slender snout with many sharp teeth that helps them snatch slippery fish with incredible speed. - **Powerful Propulsion:** Gharial has a strong, laterally flattened tail that helps them glide effortlessly and powerfully through river currents. - **Stealthy Sight:** Gharial has eyes positioned on top of its head, allowing them to see above water while keeping most of their body submerged. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 350-500 cm - **Weight:** 150-250 kg - **Lifespan:** 50-60 years - **Speed:** 18 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 30-50 - **Incubation:** 70-90 days ## Diet & Feeding Gharials are expert fish hunters, using their long snouts to catch slippery prey. - **Age differences:** Young gharials eat insects and small invertebrates before switching to an almost exclusively fish diet. - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Crustaceans, Amphibians - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mrigal carp (*Cirrhinus mrigala*) — A common prey fish in their river habitats. - **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Relies on human efforts for protection and habitat restoration. - **Symbiotic with:** Ganges River Dolphin (*Platanista gangetica*) — Shares the same vital, clean river environments. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## 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 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 Gharial? 350-500 cm ### How much does Gharial weigh? 150-250 kg ### How long does Gharial live? 50-60 years ### How fast can Gharial move? 18 km/h ### What does Gharial eat? Gharials are expert fish hunters, using their long snouts to catch slippery prey. ### How fast can Gharial swim? 15 km/h ### Where is Gharial usually found? Rivers in India and Nepal ## 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: [Gharial: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gharial)