Gharial crocodile. Gangetic gharial (lat. Tomistoma schlegelii) What does a gharial look like

Almost the same age as dinosaurs, the gharial is a surviving ancient animal that lives remarkably well today, unless humans help it disappear completely.

On our planet, only a few ancient animals have survived to this day. Earthly disasters destroyed many representatives of the fauna that existed millions of years ago. One of the lucky survivors is the Gangetic gharial. It is believed that it appeared on Earth more than 65 million years ago. Scientists attributed this reptile to the order of crocodiles, and “placed” it in the family of gharials, the genus – Gangetic gharials.

What does a gharial look like, how does it differ from the crocodiles we are used to?

The main distinguishing feature of this animal’s appearance is its muzzle, or rather its mouth. It is long and very narrow shape. This mouth is convenient for catching fish. The animal's teeth are very sharp and strong.

The body length of gharials reaches 7 meters! These are real giants. Females of this species are slightly smaller, but not small either. Male gharials have one distinctive feature- a growth on the nose called an appendage. It serves to blow bubbles during the mating season in order to attract females, and also has the function of a sound resonator.

Gharial is almost the same age as dinosaurs.

The skin color of a crocodile is dark green mixed with brownish tones. But there are gharials in a black shade, as well as light green and light brown. It is very rare to come across crocodiles of this species that have white skin.

Where does the Gangetic gharial live?

Based on the name, these crocodiles are inhabitants of the Ganges River basin and its tributaries, which flows in southern Asia. Previously, their range was wider, but today only a small population remains in India and Nepal. In India, scientists count about 2,000 individuals.

Lifestyles of endangered animals

Gharials like quiet places where no one will disturb them. They live in deep rivers. It is worth noting that they are poorly adapted to moving on land; they do this with great difficulty and reluctantly. But in water it is a very dexterous creature. Gharial is an excellent swimmer and hunter-fisherman.

Gharials have a great need for clean fresh water. It is believed that it is this circumstance that is pushing the species towards extinction, because the economic condition of India does not allow huge sums to be allocated to clean up its rivers.

What does the diet of the Gangetic narrow-faced crocodile consist of?

Its main food is fish that lives in river waters. But if the individual is large enough, it can take aim at larger prey, for example, catch large mammal. Young gharials eat insects and various mollusks.

Reproduction of gharials in nature, how does it happen?

When females grow up to three meters in length, they become sexually mature. At this point they are approximately 10 years old. “Family” life is structured in a special way: each male gharial has a whole harem near him. He carefully ensures that any of his females does not go to another “master”.

The breeding season for gharials is November – January. But the fertilized female begins to lay eggs only several months later - from March to May. To do this, she digs a deep hole, about 5 meters from the shore. She lays from 35 to 60 eggs in this “nest”. Eggs in daytime are not guarded, only at night the future “mother” comes to “check on” her offspring.

The birth of small crocodiles occurs 60 - 80 days after laying. Babies are born about 40 centimeters long, their muzzle is elongated only 5 centimeters.

Why is the catastrophic extinction of the species happening and is it possible to stop it?

IN lately The Ganges River, sacred to Hindus, has become a real sewer channel, because waste from toxic industries and other dirt are dumped there. Such conditions caused the extinction of many unique animals that once lived in the waters of this great river. Now, it seems, the turn has come to the gharials. Scientists agree that with further such pollution, this species of crocodiles is threatened with complete extinction.

Gangetic gharial- this is a crocodile that found the era of dinosaurs. It has lived on the planet for more than 65 million years. The Indian crocodile is on the verge of extinction. The only individual in the family.

Habitat

As you guessed from the name, it takes water artery the Ganges River and nearby reservoirs. They can be found in small numbers on the Hindustan Peninsula, also in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Gangetic Gavrila crocodiles live in fresh rivers with strong currents, where they can calmly lie to the bottom.

Appearance

Similar to, but the muzzle immediately reveals an ancient reptile. It is elongated and has a bump-like growth at the end. The teeth are smaller and sharper. If in numbers, then there are about 100 of them. The eyes are small, located in a special way and look in opposite directions. The Gangetic gharial's vision does not suffer from this.

The color is dirty green, turning yellow on the belly. It's because upper part The body is protected by bone plates, unlike the abdomen. Absolutely white individuals are found in nature. The limbs are weak, the hind limbs are equipped with membranes for swimming. The tail is wide and flattened. The reptile reaches 6 meters in length and weighs up to 180 kg.

Reproduction

The male acquires a harem, and during the mating season (from November to February) he mates in the water with all the “wives”.

Attracts attention with the help of a growth that serves as a sound resonator, also blows bubbles and imitates clicks. A crocodile lays eggs in the sand in March. The top is masked by vegetation.

The incubation period takes about two months. One clutch contains up to 40 eggs. After hatching, the mother cannot carry the babies into the water, since her jaws are not designed for this. She takes care of them for several weeks. A few survive, the rest go to feed predators. The female becomes sexually mature at 10 years of age, the male at 15.

Nutrition

A gharial crocodile catches a golden catfish. Juveniles can eat:

• insects;
• frogs;
• birds;
• crabs;

They are considered orderlies in the water, as they eat catfish, which destroy important commercial fish. And cleanse body of water from human remains, as they eat carrion.

The Gangetic gharial is a friendly creature and does not attack humans. The hunt takes place in a measured environment, at first it freezes or slowly swims cutely, then a sharp release of its mouth and that’s it, the jaws are locked and the prey will not be able to get out.

Lifestyle

Water lovers with capital letters, they crawl onto land only to bask and lay offspring. Because of this, Gangetic gharials become overgrown with sea acorns, which settle on the bottoms of ships and rocks.

Enemies

Only humans attack reptiles. Poachers use the skin to decorate bags, footwear, textiles. The growth is a powerful aphrodisiac, and the eggs are used in the medical field.

Farmers also occupy the banks for their land, thereby reducing the population of the Gangetic gharial. Add here the factor of natural pollution.

The Ganges has long ceased to exist clean river. The fish die, and so the crocodile long nose doomed to extinction.

1. The speed in water reaches up to 30 km/h, on land a maximum of 7 km/h.
2. For better digestion, in order to grind food, it swallows stones; when opened, even precious ones are found.
3. Endowed with excellent hearing.
4. Due to their weak paws, they move on land by crawling on their belly.
5. They can breed in captivity.
6. In India this species is sacred, he is worshiped and revered. Thanks to the appendage at the end of the nose, it can stay under water for a long time.

Lifespan

The average is around 50 years.

Red Book

The Gangetic gharial is listed in the Red Book and is protected.

According to the latest data, the increase is about 20%.

Gharial is a special type of crocodile, a direct descendant of ancient reptiles.

The Gangetic gharial has significant differences from all other crocodiles. First of all, it's his appearance. A long narrow muzzle preserved from its ancestors, the jaws of which are studded with sparse and needle-sharp teeth.

The gharial spends most of its time in the water and feeds on fish, and its habits are more reminiscent of predatory fish. In relation to other living beings, he is less aggressive.

Gharial is unusual. As scientific research confirms, in the form it looks now, it has existed for several million years, and only in those places where the conditions of its existence have remained virtually unchanged all this time: warm humid climate and fresh water. The habitats of the Gangetic gharial are south Asia, basin of the Ganges River and its tributaries, in India and Nepal. This crocodile received the name Gangetic due to the name itself. famous river India. Just a few decades ago, the habitat of the Ghanaian gharial was much wider, but recent years their numbers have greatly decreased and now there are no more than 2000 of them.

Only a few species of animals have survived from ancient times on earth, and even those numerous floods, ice age and other cataclysms significantly modified. Prehistoric animals that existed millions of years ago, during evolutionary transformations, adapting to new conditions, changed their appearance. However common features the appearance and structure of the body have been preserved to a certain extent. One of these preserved, in a slightly modified form, is the Gangetic gharial. It is believed that gharials, as a separate species, have existed on earth for more than 50 million years. So, in terms of longevity, gharials are almost the same age as dinosaurs and direct descendants of ancient crocodiles. According to the existing classification of the animal world, gharials belong to the class of reptiles, the order crocodiles and a separate family of gharials, representatives of the genus and species of which they are in the singular.

Externally, the gharial looks like an ordinary crocodile. However, if the crocodile can be considered a land animal adapted to life on land, then the gharial is more likely an aquatic animal adapted to existence on land. Therefore, the gharial has predominantly aquatic characteristics. He has the same large, elongated body on short legs, like a crocodile, covered with ossified plates. On the back the plates are larger, similar to a shell. On the sides and on the belly, the plates are pressed to each other like fish scales, which protects the gharial from damage from sharp stones both in water and on land, especially since on the ground they cannot lift their body and move only by crawling. This is its special protection, which appeared with its predominant habitat in water. On the tail, the plates turned into triangular growths. Many gharials, spending almost all their time in water, have their skin covered with epibiotic crustaceans, which do not seem to bother them at all. The body color of gharials is not the same. The back is darker, sometimes brownish-green, the belly is yellowish-green. There are gharials that are light green in color, sometimes brown in different shades, rarely black and almost white.

The head of the gharial is almost flat with long narrow jaws; the older the gharial, the longer and narrower its muzzle. At the end of the muzzle, males have a soft growth through which they blow bubbles during the mating season to attract females and emit a loud hum when exhaling. The eyes are small and round, located above the muzzle and looking in different directions, almost like those of a fish. The teeth are quite thin, sparsely growing, slightly inclined and very sharp, specially adapted for catching fish, which is the main food for this reptile.

In size, the gharial is a true giant, second only to saltwater crocodile. Its length can be 7 meters or more, females are slightly smaller. They live in relatively quiet places, mostly deep rivers With clean water. They move on land with difficulty, but in water they are very mobile and dexterous, swim well and skillfully hunt fish, which is their main type of food, but it is possible that they can attack other animals. Small gharials feed on shellfish and insects.

Gharials breed at the age of about 10 years. The female is capable of laying eggs with a length of about three meters. Around November - January, the male gharial gathers a whole harem around him, which he jealously guards from the encroachment of strangers. From March to May, the female digs a hole on the shore and lays 20 - 60 eggs in it, which she periodically visits, often at night. After 60 - 80 days, the eggs hatch. Their length is about 40 centimeters, and their muzzle is about 5 centimeters. If necessary, females guard their nest, and when the babies hatch, she helps them move into the water. After which, the female takes care of her cubs for several months, although usually only a few remain from the brood.

Gharials are very sensitive to clean fresh water. Severe pollution of rivers in India, as a result of uncontrolled discharge of waste and harmful substances, has become one of the factors in the decline in the population of these now rare animals.

Gharial is one of the most rare species crocodiles. In the 1970s The gharial was under threat of complete extinction. The area suitable for its habitation has significantly decreased, and the number of fish has decreased. Gharials often died in fishing nets. Eastern healers massively collected and collect gharial eggs and kill them in order to extract growths on the nose to prepare medicines.

In addition to India, gharials could recently be seen in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, in the valleys of the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra rivers and on the Manas River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, on the border with Bhutan. But now the gharials that lived in Pakistan and Bangladesh are almost completely destroyed, no more than 50 remain. in the zoo and outside the territory national park. In Nepal there are about 65-70 of them. To preserve the population, zoos in other countries are ready to take in several individuals, but the Indian authorities prohibit the export of Ghanaian gharials outside the country, and if this is done, it is mainly through smuggling.

In India in 1975-1977, and in Nepal in 1978, gharial conservation programs were organized. For this purpose, several special farms have been created for raising gharials. Work was organized to collect and incubate gharial eggs, followed by raising the cubs in national parks, where young gharials were released. In this regard, there are optimistic forecasts, it seems that this has yielded certain results, but no real successes have yet been published. Well, be that as it may, if they are doing it, then there is still some hope for the preservation of the gharial as a species.

Gangetic gharial - one of the largest crocodiles in the world. He is the owner of a narrow, dotted sharp teeth graze. This species of crocodile lives in the rivers of India, feeding almost exclusively on fish.
DIMENSIONS
Length: males - up to 6.6 m, females - up to 4 m.
Weight up to 1,000 kg.
REPRODUCTION
Puberty: from 10 years old.
Mating season: end of winter - spring.
Number of eggs: 20-90 (average 40).
Incubation: 70-100 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: Stay alone and in small groups.
Food: Mainly fish, but also waterfowl, crabs and small mammals.
Related species. The Gangetic gharial is the only representative of its family. Externally, the gharial resembles the crocodile gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), which belongs to the group of true crocodiles.

Despite the breeding of the Gangetic gharial in captivity, the future of this species is rather uncertain. The animals were hunted for their shiny skin, and with the development of industry in India, many natural habitats of crocodiles disappeared. Several reserves have been created to preserve the Gangetic gharial from extinction.
FOOD . Most crocodiles are very undemanding when it comes to food. They eat almost anything that appears in the water or on land within the reach of their mouths. The gharial, however, specializes only in certain foods - it feeds almost exclusively on fish.
The English gharial hunts from cover and grabs unwary fish with its mouth lined with sharp teeth. Having caught the victim, the Gangetic gharial raises its mouth with prey above the water. If this big fish, he hits her several times on the surface of the water to tear her apart. The cold-blooded gharial does not require much energy, so it can only eat once a week. Large individuals also hunt waterfowl and small mammals. They often pose a danger to people. Human remains have been found in the stomachs of some Gangetic gharials.
Gavial swallows the fish head first so that its gills do not get stuck in the throat.
Gavial AND MAN. People during many years Thousands of Gangetic gharial were killed and bags were made from their skins. Another blow dealt to the population of these crocodiles was the construction of river dams. Electricity and water pumping stations have appeared on rivers in India. Irrigation plays important role in arid India, but its prey was the Gangetic gharial.
In 1975, there were fewer than 70 gharials living in the wild. The Indian government decided to raise them in captivity. People collected animal eggs and carried them to special stations. The cubs that appear here are reliably protected from enemies and are constantly monitored. After reaching a length of 120 cm, young gharials can lead an independent life, so they are released into the wild.
REPRODUCTION. At the end of winter and early spring, male Gangetic gharems collect harems consisting of 3-4 females. At this time, male gharials hiss and growl, trying to scare their rivals. After successful matchmaking, the gharial mates with all the females in the harem. Mating of reptiles occurs in water - the couple gradually sinks to the bottom of the river in a tight embrace. The Gangetic gharial belongs to a number of crocodiles, and therefore lays eggs. The fertilized female climbs ashore and digs a hole at a distance of 10 m from the water, into which she lays about 40 eggs covered with a thin shell. The female chooses a place for the nest with diligence, looking for the most favorable microclimate for the development of eggs. Having laid a clutch, the female stays close, she resolutely protects the eggs from predators such as monitor lizards and jackals. The higher the temperature, the faster the eggs develop. After 70-100 days, small gharials appear. The mother, hearing their loud squeak, comes to the rescue, raking a layer of soil over the babies and pushing them with their muzzle in the direction of the water. Sometimes the female takes the cubs in her teeth and carries them to the river, holding them very tenderly in her mouth.
Gangetic gharials are born, breaking through eggshells a special tooth at the tip of the nose.
LIFESTYLE. The Gangetic gharial's favorite activity is to warm up in the sun. Comfortably sitting on a sandy island, the crocodile takes a sunbath, but rarely moves away from the water.
Gavial prefers clear rivers with fast current. The gharial, completely submerged in the water and with only its nostrils exposed to the surface, is smoothly carried away by the current. Water temperature fluctuates less than air temperature. Crocodile gharial is a cold-blooded animal, so its body temperature depends on temperature environment. Crocodiles spend cold nights in the water. They hide under steep banks, where warm air lingers. During sleep, the gharial's metabolism slows down and the body's oxygen consumption decreases. The gharial's mouth is lined with hundreds of very sharp teeth. This is his fishing gear.
Did you know that crocodiles swallow pebbles, which in their stomachs act as millstones that grind large pieces. Hand and ankle bracelets are found in the stomachs of Gangetic gharials Indian girls. Gharials often pick up these decorations on the shore along with stones.
The Gangetic gharial also hunts catfish, which, in turn, feed on tilapia, the main catch of local fishermen. The decline in the number of gharials has led to an increase in the number of catfish, which have almost destroyed the tilapia. Thus, fish-eating gharials began to be perceived by fishermen as competitors, although in reality they were their allies. This also contributed to the destruction of the gharial.
PECULIARITIES.
Leather: tough, hard, like a shell, is a valuable raw material for the manufacture of various items. Hunting of gharial is prohibited.
Limbs: swims due to the presence of swimming membranes between the fingers. Female gharials dig a hole with their paws.
Muzzle: The gharial, compared to other crocodiles, has a narrow muzzle, studded with more than a hundred teeth. The gharial does not have lips that would prevent water from entering the mouth. Prominent nostrils allow the animal to breathe while underwater.
Tip of the nose: In males, there is a nodular growth at the tip of the nose, the function of which has not been studied. Perhaps this is a resonator that enhances the sounds of the male during the mating season.
Transportation method: The gharial cannot run with its body and tail raised above the ground, as other crocodiles do. He slowly crawls along the ground.
How the gharial hunts. The gharial's mouth is perfectly adapted to making quick lunges underwater. The narrow mouth does not meet the resistance of the water, so the animal can quickly turn its side and grab a fish swimming nearby with its very sharp teeth.
PLACES OF RESIDENCE. There are two populations of the Gangetic gharial: a few individuals live in the Indus River in eastern Pakistan and a large group inhabits the Mahanadi, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy rivers.
Saving. Thanks to captive breeding and conservation, the species' numbers are gradually increasing. Despite this, the Gangetic gharial is among the species that continue to be subject to conservation measures.

Interesting facts about Gangetic gharials

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The gharial crocodile (lat. Tomistoma schlegeli) belongs to the Gavial family (Gavialidae). Its closest relative is (Gavialis gangeticus). Both species spend almost their entire lives in water. They come to land only to sunbathe or lay eggs.

Destruction natural environment habitat led to a sharp decline in the population. IN wildlife approximately 2000-2500 animals remain.

Spreading

Currently, gharial crocodiles live on the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia. The largest populations are found in Sumatra, Borneo and Java.

Previously, the species was widespread in the territory Southeast Asia. This is evidenced by fossilized remains of animals found in southern China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The last specimens were seen in Thailand in 1970.

Reptiles live in freshwater lakes, rivers and swamps in tropical and subtropical climate. They prefer bodies of water with slow-moving or standing water. Most of all they like areas abundantly covered with aquatic and coastal vegetation.

These reptiles are not found in mixed and salty waters.

Behavior

Gharial crocodiles are cold-blooded animals. For normal metabolism they need regular sunbathing. For this purpose, every morning they go out to a small piece of land and warm themselves for several hours. Often, warming procedures take place at noon or even in the afternoon. Their duration depends on weather conditions.

Having warmed up well, the reptile goes in search of food. Its limbs are relatively poorly developed, so it hunts in aquatic environment. Due to weak paws gharial crocodile moves on land almost crawling, crouching with its belly to the ground.

Due to the presence of well-developed swimming membranes, it is an excellent swimmer. The long flexible tail is used as a rudder and additional propulsion.

The diet is based on fish and various crustaceans.

To a lesser extent, waterfowl and mammals caught in the water get their lunch. Predators also eat amphibians and small reptiles, most often turtles. Juveniles feed on small fish, small crustaceans, mollusks and insects.

Representatives of this species hunt mainly from ambush. Hidden in the thick of vegetation, they patiently wait for potential prey to pass by. When she appears on close range, followed by a lightning-fast throw.

To improve digestion, reptiles periodically swallow small pebbles. They swallow the prey whole, so the stones help grind food in the stomach.

It is extremely rare for gharial crocodiles to change their hunting strategy and begin to actively search for food. This behavior is typical for them only during periods of lack of food.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity occurs when the body length reaches about 3 m. The mating season takes place during the dry season. Males try to fertilize all females within their home range. They are indifferent to protecting the clutch and do not have any paternal feelings for their future offspring.

Shortly before laying eggs, the female looks for a secluded place for a nest on the shore of a reservoir. Thereafter, it is often used annually for many years in a row.

The female does not dig a hole, but lays eggs about 10 cm long on a small hill up to 60 cm high, having previously built a kind of nest from rotting fragments of plants and peat. There are from 20 to 60 eggs in a clutch.

Incubation at an ambient temperature of 30°-31°C lasts from 80 to 95 days without the participation of the female.

Crocodiles hatch into the world fully formed and ready for independent existence. Children deprived of parental care often become victims of other predators. Only a small proportion of them survive to the age of one year.

Description

The average body length of adult individuals is 300-400 cm. Some specimens grow up to 500 cm. The weight of males ranges from 120 to 210 kg, females weigh about 80-100 kg.

A characteristic feature is the presence of an elongated narrow mouth, reaching 65-105 cm in length. The tip of the mouth has a slight thickening; sharp, thin and slightly backward-curved teeth are visible even in its closed position.

Juvenile animals are dark brown in color, which becomes lighter and acquires a light brown tint as they grow older. Irregular dark transverse stripes or dark spots run across the entire back.

Individual scales are not superimposed on each other. On their back they have rectangular shape. Abdominal part devoid of scales and colored whitish or cream.

The iris of the eyes is yellow-brown. Underwater, the eyes are protected by a nictitating membrane. From the base of the tail to its middle, two low ridges run along the sides.

The lifespan of a gharial crocodile under natural conditions is about 20-30 years.