Gharial Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Gavialis gangeticus
Family : Crocodylidae
Order : Crocodilia
Class : Reptilia
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Gavial
Habitat : Freshwater
Description : Gharials have a long and narrow snout that resembles a thin and elongated "ghara" (Hindi for "pot"). They are typically olive or brownish-gray in color, with a lighter underside. Adult males can grow up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs), while females are smaller, typically reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length.
Gharials inhabit rivers, estuaries, and marshes in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi river systems. They mainly feed on fish, using their long snouts to catch their prey. Adult gharials may also consume small vertebrates, such as frogs and snakes. Gharials are typically shy and reclusive, and they spend most of their time basking on sandbanks in the sun. They are also known for their loud vocalizations, which they use to communicate with each other. Gharials are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their population has declined drastically due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Efforts are being made to conserve this species through captive breeding and habitat restoration programs.
Gharials inhabit rivers, estuaries, and marshes in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi river systems. They mainly feed on fish, using their long snouts to catch their prey. Adult gharials may also consume small vertebrates, such as frogs and snakes. Gharials are typically shy and reclusive, and they spend most of their time basking on sandbanks in the sun. They are also known for their loud vocalizations, which they use to communicate with each other. Gharials are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their population has declined drastically due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Efforts are being made to conserve this species through captive breeding and habitat restoration programs.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Species groups
References:
description written by: Zarin Tasnim,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka ; information source:IUCN Red List Bangladesh-2015; photo credit:ZeePack(www.inaturalist.org/people/ZeePack), photo copyright: iNaturalist. more information please contact with us.
description written by: Zarin Tasnim,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka ; information source:IUCN Red List Bangladesh-2015; photo credit:ZeePack(www.inaturalist.org/people/ZeePack), photo copyright: iNaturalist. more information please contact with us.