Gharials, also known as gavials, belong to the Gavialidae family
Transcription
Gharials, also known as gavials, belong to the Gavialidae family
Gharials Gharials, also known as gavials, belong to the Gavialidae family. There is only one species of gharial worldwide and it is found in deep, fast moving river waters in India. They feed on fish and scavenge dead animals. They are un-able to eat large prey due to their thin, fragile jaws. The snout shape varies with the age of the gharial, becoming thinner as the gharial ages. The bulbous growth on the tip of the male’s snout is called a “ghara”, from the Indian word meaning “pot”. The average gharial is 13 to 15 feet long, though some exceed 20 feet in length. The IUCN lists them as Critically Endangered.