Indian Gharial or Gavial Gavialis gangeticus FACT FILE: Local Name: Gharial (Urdu) Family: GAVIALIDAE Genus: Gavialis Status: Virtually Extinct Warning: Gharials can be dangerous at times. People should avoid swimming in lakes and rivers that are known to have Gharials.   Photo Credit: Tim Dwight (Willdlife Web)   Description and Biology: General characteristics:  The gharial is the most long-snouted and together with the saltwater crocodile the largest of the living crocodilians (males up to 67m). Placed in a family by itself, the Gavialidae, the gharial has long been separated from the rest of the crocodilian stock (Densmore 1983). Adult males grow a bulbous nasal appendage, which resembles an Indian pot called a 'ghara,' from which the species derives its name. It has several functions attributed to it: a vocal resonator (which produces a loud buzzing noise during vocalisation), a visual stimulus to females, and the production of bubbles associated with sexual behaviour. The elongated jaws are lined with many interlocking, razor-sharp teeth - an adaptation to the diet (predominantly fish in adults). The gharial is poorly equipped for locomotion on land - the leg musculature is not suited to raise the body off the ground (to produce the 'high-walk' gait - being able only to push its body forward across the ground ('belly-sliding'), although it can do this with some speed when required. It is, however, very agile in the water - the tail is well-developed and laterally flattened, and the rear feet possess extensive webbing.   Biology: Gharial are arguably the most thoroughly aquatic of the extant crocodilians, and adults apparently do not have the ability to walk in a semi-upright stance as other crocodilians do (Bustard and Singh 1978). Although the function of the ghara is not well understood, it is apparently used as a visual sex indicator, as a sound resonator, or for bubbling or other associated sexual behaviors (Martin and Bellairs 1977).    Females may not reach sexual maturity until they are nearly 3m long. Nesting is done during the annual dry season in holes excavated in river sand banks (Whitaker and Basu 1983). Unlike most other crocodilians who carry their young from the nest in the mouth, gharial appear not to do this because of the unusual morphology of their jaws (Singh and Bustard 1977). However, post-natal maternal care has been observed. Female gharial typically lay 3050 eggs, and the eggs are the largest of any crocodilian (average 160g).    The diet changes between juvenile and adult - the juveniles are well suited to deal with a variety of invertebrate prey such as insects, plus smaller vertebrates such as frogs. Adults, however, are primarily fish-eaters, for which their jaws and teeth are perfectly adapted - the thin shape gives the snout low resistance in water, which is suited to fast lateral snatching movements underwater; teeth are ideally suited for holding struggling prey such as slippery fish). Some of the larger gharials are more opportunistic and take larger prey, including mammals.   Habitat, Distribution and Status: The gharial is considered to be one of the most critically threatened of all crocodilians, becoming alarmingly close to extinction in the 1970s. Gharial are extremely rare in both India and Nepal, virtually extirpated in Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and probably extinct in Myanmar.   Gharial are restricted to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent where they were found in four river systems: the Indus (Pakistan), the Ganges (India and Nepal), the Mahanadi (India) and the Brahmaputra (Bangladesh, India and Bhutan). Reports of gharial remaining in the Sind region of Pakistan are persistent (Ahmad 1990, Chaudhry 1993), but there appears to be a very small number, possibly only one or two individuals. The species is virtually extinct in Pakistan. The Pakistan government is currently planning a restocking effort with assistance from Indian institutions    Conservation projects in Pakistan Survey of status and distribution in Pakistan:  The government of Pakistan is interested in implementing a restocking program similar to the ones in Nepal and India. However, apart from one recent sighting nothing is known about the status of the gharial. Surveys of the Indus River and Nara Canal are needed. Based on the results of this survey, action should be taken to set aside land for crocodile sanctuaries as a first step towards restocking. Establishment of a captive rearing center in Pakistan:  A captive rearing center similar to those in India and Nepal is needed to supply animals for restocking in protected areas. Credits: IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/HERPETOLOGY/Crocs.htm) Dr. Adam Britton, CROCODILIANS Natural History and Conservation (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/cnhc.html) Sindh Wildlife Department WWF-Pakistan Nausherwan Ahmed ©1997-2003 Wildlife of Pakistan-All Rights Reserved.