The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian in the family Gavialidae and among the longest of all living crocodilians. Mature females are 2.6 to 4.5 m (8 ft 6 in to 14 ft 9 in) long, and males 3 to 6 m (9 ft 10 in to 19 ft 8 in).

Nov 9, 2024 · Although they look like crocodiles or alligators, gharials split off from other crocodilian species over 40 million years ago. Unlike crocs and gators, gharials don't ambush their prey. Instead,...

May 27, 2024 · Gharials have existed on Earth for more than 200 million years and have changed little in their evolution since. The gharial is a large-sized reptile that is one of the longest of all extant crocodilians at 11.8-21 feet and lives in slow-moving rivers’ murky waters on …

The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a monotypic genus (i.e. having only one species in that genus). The gharial is a unique species of crocodilian, characterized by its long, thin snout and the bulbous growth at the end of the snout of adult males called the “ghara”.

Jan 27, 2023 · Larger than the Nile and American crocodiles, a typical gharial can grow to 15 feet (4.6 m) in length and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg). They are the most aquatic of all crocodile species, webbed feet and a long, flattened tail gives them great swimming power.

May 7, 2024 · An early gharial-like fossil is known from Morocco's 60 million-year-old rocks (Hua & Jouve 2004). Although 12 fossil species have been found in India, South America, Africa, and Europe, only one species survives today.

Feb 11, 2025 · In a recent and extraordinary find, researchers unearthed the fossilized remains of a 12-million-year-old marine gharial, marking the youngest specimen of its kind ever discovered. The fossil, discovered in 2023, was identified by a team of Peruvian scientists from the Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute of Peru and Colegio La Unión .

Jan 30, 2025 · What they unearthed was an almost complete skeleton of a juvenile gharial crocodile, measuring approximately three meters in length. Dating back between 10 and 12 million years to the Miocene epoch, this find offers a rare glimpse into the early life stages of an otherwise fearsome species.

Gharials are one of the biggest crocodilians, but they have the narrowest snout of the crocodilian species. The gharial’s distinctive narrow snout is a fine adaptation for the purpose of catching prey underwater, as it enables it to whip its head through the water sideways to snatch prey.

Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are one the rarest and most unusual-looking crocodilians and the most aquatic. Also known as gavials and fish-eating crocodiles, they are four to seven meters (13 to 23 feet) in length and spend most of their time in the water.