Buzz
Once a widely distributed predator, the peculiar, narrow-snouted gharial is now on the brink of extinction, confined to a few rivers in Nepal and northern India. Dive into everything you need to know about this unique crocodilian species.
1. THE NAME GHARIAL DERIVES FROM A TRADITIONAL POT.
At around 10 years of age, male gharials develop a distinctive bulbous growth on their snouts. Known as the ghara or gharal, this feature shares its name with the Hindi word ghara, referring to a round clay pot commonly found in India and Nepal. The pot’s shape bears a striking similarity to the gharial’s snout, inspiring the animal’s name.
2. MALES ARE NOTICEABLY LARGER THAN FEMALES.
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The gharial stands out as the only crocodilian species with visible sexual dimorphism beyond mere size differences. Females lack the distinctive ghara found on males. Measuring between 11 to 14.5 feet, females are considerably smaller than males, which can grow from 16 to 19.5 feet. Exceptionally large males have been recorded at 21 feet, weighing up to 1500 pounds, ranking them among the heaviest reptiles globally. However, they are still overshadowed by the saltwater crocodile, which can exceed a ton in weight.
3. THEY ARE FISH-EATING SPECIALISTS.
Unlike most crocodilians with broad snouts, the gharial’s elongated, narrow snout resembles a toothy broomstick. This unique design is ideal for catching fish, their primary diet. The streamlined snout allows the gharial to move swiftly through water with minimal drag, while its 106 to 110 razor-sharp teeth interlock when the jaws close, effectively trapping fish within.
As a gharial matures, its snout undergoes a transformation, altering its dietary habits. Juvenile gharials, with their wider jaws, primarily consume insects, crustaceans, and frogs. As they age, their snouts elongate and narrow, making them less effective at capturing larger terrestrial prey favored by other crocodilians. Adult gharials predominantly feed on fish, though larger individuals may occasionally consume birds, reptiles, or small mammals.
4. GHARIALS DO NOT TARGET HUMANS (BUT THEY MAY CONSUME DECEASED INDIVIDUALS).
Due to their specialized jaw structure, gharials are not equipped to prey on large land animals, including humans. Incidents of gharial attacks on people are extremely uncommon, with only a few documented cases. These rare encounters typically involve a mother gharial defending her nest or an individual caught in fishing nets. None of these incidents have resulted in fatalities.
Although gharials do not kill humans, they are known to scavenge on human remains. Human bones, along with jewelry, have been discovered in gharial stomachs. This is attributed to the Hindu practice of floating corpses down the Ganges River, providing an easy food source for gharials. Additionally, gharials, like other reptiles, swallow hard objects such as rocks to aid in digestion. Some researchers suggest that gharials may intentionally consume human jewelry to facilitate the breakdown of their food.
5. THE MALE GHARIAL'S GHARA IS USED TO PRODUCE DISTINCTIVE BUZZING SOUNDS.
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The ghara, primarily composed of cartilage, is connected to a flap that partially obstructs the nostrils. This structure functions as a sound amplifier. When the male breathes out, the flap vibrates, creating a far-reaching buzzing sound. This noise is thought to help males attract females during mating season. Additionally, males use their gharas to blow bubbles as part of their courtship behavior.
6. GHARIALS HAVE SUCH WEAK LEGS THAT THEY CANNOT LIFT THEIR BODIES OFF THE GROUND.
Crocodilians typically sprawl their legs to the sides when on land. However, most species are capable of performing a “high walk,” where they straighten their legs and lift their bodies off the ground. This adaptation helps them navigate rough terrain without injuring their undersides. While the high walk is usually used for short distances, some crocodiles, especially younger ones, employ it during extended journeys.
Gharials, however, cannot perform the high walk. Their limb muscles are significantly weaker than those of other crocodilians, forcing them to drag their bodies along the ground when on land. They are far more adept in water, and some experts consider the gharial to be the most water-dependent crocodilian in the world. Gharials typically only come ashore to sunbathe or lay eggs.
7. THEY LIVE IN HAREMS.
Upon reaching sexual maturity at around 10 years old, female gharials join a harem. These groups typically include four to six females, closely protected by a dominant male. During the mating season, which occurs between December and January, the dominant male mates with all the females in his harem and aggressively defends them against competing males. As water levels drop in the dry season (March to May), the nesting period begins.
8. GHARIALS PRODUCE THE LARGEST EGGS AMONG CROCODILIANS.
Pregnant females search for deep sandy areas to build their nests, with mid-river island beaches being the preferred location due to reduced predator activity. Using her hind legs, the female digs a pitcher-shaped hole where she lays between 30 and 50 eggs. Each egg weighs approximately a third of a pound, making them the largest of any crocodilian species.
During the incubation period, the mother gharial remains vigilant, guarding the nest at night and monitoring it during the day. After about 70 days, the eggs hatch, and the foot-long hatchlings begin chirping. The mother assists in digging them out of the nest, and the young gharials stay under her care for several months before becoming independent.
9. THE “FALSE GHARIAL” MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE A CLOSE RELATIVE.
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Modern crocodilians are categorized into three main groups. The first is the alligatoridae family, which encompasses alligators and caimans. The second group, crocodylidae, includes all “true” crocodiles, such as saltwater and Nile crocodiles. The third and final group is the gavialidae.
Historically, the gharial has been considered the sole surviving member of the gavialidae family. However, some scientists argue that another species, Tomistoma schlegelii, or the false gharial (shown above), also belongs to this group. This endangered reptile, native to Southeast Asia, can exceed 16 feet in length and weigh over 450 pounds. Despite its elongated snout and needle-like teeth, it has traditionally been classified under crocodylidae.
For many years, biologists believed the false gharial’s similarity to the true gharial was purely superficial. However, recent molecular evidence suggests that Tomistoma might actually belong to the gavialidae family. This claim remains controversial, as anatomical and fossil evidence highlights significant differences, particularly in tail and jaw structure. With conflicting data, the debate over their relationship is far from resolved.
10. ADULT GHARIALS FAVOR RAPIDLY FLOWING RIVERS.
Young gharials are often found in tributaries and calm backwaters, while adults prefer deeper, faster-moving rivers. They typically avoid strong currents, favoring quieter areas like river bends and confluences, where they congregate in large numbers.
11. ALARMINGLY, FEWER THAN 400 ADULT GHARIALS MAY REMAIN IN THE WILD.
The gharial population is declining due to overfishing, poaching, and habitat destruction. Invasive species, such as African tilapia introduced to Indian rivers in the 1950s, have also harmed gharials. These fish, which thrive in polluted waters, can cause gharials to develop gout after consumption, possibly due to concentrated toxins or other unidentified chemicals.
These threats have pushed the gharial to the brink of extinction. Once widespread across Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, they have vanished from these regions over the past century. Today, gharials inhabit only 2 percent of their historical range. The World Wildlife Federation estimates that around 1100 wild gharials remain in India, with fewer than 100 in Nepal. The global adult population is now thought to be under 400.
On a brighter note, recent years have seen record-breaking hatchings, with 2500 hatchlings recorded this year along the Chambal River. Conservation programs, including captive breeding and public awareness campaigns, offer hope for restoring their population. After all, who would want to imagine a world without gharials?
