Gangetic gharial. Gharial crocodile

The Gangetic gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a representative of the oldest species of crocodiles. It appeared on Earth more than sixty million years ago. And only one of the twelve fossilized species found on the territory of many continents has survived to the present day. They consider the gharial and worship him.

Gangetic gharial: photo and description

Getting to know him should begin with a description of some of his characteristic features. The length of its muzzle is more than 3 times its width. It lengthens with age. And in adult males, a bump appears at the end of the snout, reminiscent of an Indian pot, which is called ghara, hence gharial - the Indian name of this species.

The Gangetic gharial is armed with thin and sharp teeth. On the jaws of adult individuals there can be counted 110 of them; their structure is slightly inclined to the side. This is necessary for a more tenacious capture of fish.

The cylindrical body can reach five meters in length. But now especially large reptiles are very rare. Males are significantly larger than females and can weigh up to 200 kg.

Gangetic gharial - excellent swimmer. In water it can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h (thanks to special membranes on its hind legs). On land it moves in a slightly different way. The animal crawls on its belly, which is not allowed to be raised by underdeveloped limbs.

The color of these reptiles is dominated by green. The upper body is darker than the belly and has transverse stripes. With age, the color changes to darker.

Nutrition

What does the Gangetic gharial eat? The diet of these reptiles is varied. But the main diet is fish, since they spend most of their lives in water. Having caught a slippery fish with its sharp and tenacious teeth, the Gangetic gharial will not release the prey.

Large crocodiles attack mammals, eat snakes and birds, as well as drowned people, who, according to Indian traditions, are often buried not in the ground, but in the sacred waters of rivers. A variety of jewelry that is placed on the deceased, as well as small stones that fall into the stomach of the Gangetic gharial, contribute to better grinding and absorption of food. Juveniles can feed on crayfish and frogs.

Gangetic gharial: interesting facts

• Males create harems. They carefully protect their females and the territory in which the harem is located from encroachment and interference by outsiders. Most often it doesn’t come to contractions. The rivals hiss at each other and show aggression with a belligerent appearance.
• Gangetic gharials are capable of breeding in captivity.
• IN wildlife There may be individuals with an almost white body color, which does not in any way affect their hunting abilities.
• Males use a peculiar growth on their face to attract females during mating games. It also allows them to stay under water longer.
• After mating, the female Gangetic gharial digs a hole on the sandy shore to lay eggs. There may be several such pits, reaching 50 cm in depth, until she chooses one that suits her.

Mating season, mating

At the end of winter - beginning of spring, the mating season begins for the Gangetic gharial. Mating occurs in water, with all females of the harem. A fertilized female lays an average of up to 40 eggs (sometimes their number can be 70-90). She carefully protects them from destruction by jackals and monitor lizards. The male also takes an active part in protection. But with the onset of the harem, the harem disintegrates, and the predators lead their usual solitary lifestyle.

Offspring

When enough high temperature eggs mature quickly. After 3-4 months, offspring appear, breaking through eggshells tooth at the very tip of the nose. The mother helps the babies get out of the sand, but cannot bring them to the water due to the fact that her mouth is simply not adapted to this. Small crocodiles are under the protection of adults for up to 2 months, until they become stronger in the aquatic environment.

Hunting and recreation

The Gangetic gharial loves to bask in the sun, sitting comfortably on the sandy shore. But in order to avoid becoming a victim of other predators, it does not move away from the water.

When hunting for fish, the Gangetic gharial can wait for its prey in a completely motionless position, or it can swim slowly along the river, catching barely noticeable oscillatory movements. In both cases, the hunt ends with a sharp movement of the head to the side - and the victim can no longer escape.

Where does it live and how long does it live?

The Ghanaian gharial can be found in the Indus River in eastern Pakistan, as well as in the Mahanadi, Irrawaddy and Brahmaputra.

Can live 45-50 years. However, rarely does anyone manage to live to that age. Representatives of this species have a very high mortality rate.

Assistants

Despite their impressive size and terrifying mouth with razor teeth, these reptiles can be considered the most good-natured. They never attack people. The reason for this unusual behavior The predator lies, most likely, in their clumsiness and timid disposition.

Gangetic gharials can in some way be considered orderlies, as they clean the river waters of the rotting remains of corpses. In addition, the object of hunting of gharials are catfish, which feed on valuable commercial fish- tilapia. Due to the sharp decrease in the number of predatory reptiles, its population has also decreased.

Threat of extinction of large crocodiles

Hard Gangetic gharial is highly valued and is used to make various jewelry, bags, wallets, and shoes. The eggs of these crocodiles are used to make omelettes and are used in medicine. They also hunt for growths at the end of the males’ snout, which are considered aphrodisiacs. The number of these rare reptiles is in danger of complete extinction. Therefore, they are listed in the International Red Book, and hunting them is prohibited.

A set of measures aimed primarily at cleaning up the chemicals and waste discharges from rivers, where they still occur rare individuals Gangetic gharial. In addition, they are kept in captivity, their eggs and young are protected, which is also aimed at preserving this species.

Thanks to government conservation measures, the number of the Gangetic gharial, “the kindest crocodile” on the planet, has increased tenfold.

Gavial (lat. Gavialis gangeticus) - one of the representatives of the order of crocodiles, the only species in the Gavial family. From external differences You can note the narrow, long muzzle. Its width is three times less than its length. With age, the gharial's muzzle becomes even narrower and longer. Due to the fact that the gharial feeds on fish, its teeth are long and sharp, located at a slight angle for ease of eating.

The body length of males is about 6 meters, females, for the most part, do not reach more than 3 meters. The gharial's back is brown-green in color, and its belly is lighter, with a yellow tint. The gharial lives on the Hindustan Peninsula, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Myanmar.

The usual habitat for the gharial is water bodies. And not shallow water, but deep sections of fast rivers. It is distinguished from other crocodiles by its inability to move through dry areas due to a certain anatomical feature - weak leg muscles.

But in water, the speed of its movements is quite high, in comparison with other representatives of the crocodile order. The gharial comes onto land only for sunbathing and during the breeding season.

The diet of the young gharial includes small representatives of invertebrates and frogs. Adults feed on fish. Especially large representatives of gharials are capable of hunting birds and small mammals.

Gharial hunters often find human remains and jewelry in the stomachs of these animals. This is because gharials also feed on human corpses burned and buried in the Ganges River.

This is ancient tradition Indians. Gems enter the stomach of crocodiles in the same way. Gharials swallow them for a specific purpose - to quickly grind food in the stomach and to increase body weight (ballast). Fortunately, gharials never attack people.

The ability to reproduce occurs in females at the age of ten years. By then they reach a length of about three meters. Male gharials are polygamous. For each male there are several females, which he protects from the attacks of other males. The mating season lasts 2 months - from November to January.

Females lay eggs in the sand, at a distance of three to five meters from the water in a shallow hole, and cover it with plant material on top. The weight of eggs reaches 160 g, which is three times more than that of other species of crocodiles.

The incubation period is 2-2.5 months. After the birth of the cubs, the female does not carry them into the water, but takes care of her offspring for several more weeks.

Currently, gharials are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are seriously endangered. Every day there are fewer and fewer places suitable for their quiet life and reproduction, and the supply of fish, their main food, is decreasing.

The eggs of this rare species of crocodiles are collected for the purpose of treating certain diseases. In addition, poachers continue to hunt male gharials for growths from their noses, which are used as a means of enhancing potency.

In the 70s of the last century, gharials began to be bred in captivity in India. And in 1981, the first gharials born on crocodile farms were released into the wild. Today, there are about 1,500 gharials in India. Out of forty young individuals, only one reaches sexual maturity.

About 8000 species of reptiles. Among modern reptiles there are 4 orders:

1. Order Beaked, subclass Lepidosaurs(1 type – tuateria).

2. Squad Scaly subclass Lepidosaurs. Over 6600 modern species.

Suborder 1. Lizards ( Lizard, Gecko, Agama, Roundhead, Iguana, Spindle, Yellowtail, Monitor lizard, Amphisbaena, Skink).

Suborder 2. Snakes (Boa Constrictor, Snake, Cobra, Viper, Snake, Spectacled Snake, Bungar Adder, Viper, Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth).

Suborder 3. Chameleons ( Chameleon).

3. Squad Crocodiles subclass Archosaurs (Crocodile, Gavial, Cayman, Alligator). There are 20 - 26 species in total.

4. Turtle Squad subclass Anapsida. About 330 modern species from 4 suborders:

Suborder 1. Sea turtles ( Bissa, Soup turtle).

Suborder 2. Soft-skinned turtles ( Chinese turtle);

Suborder 3. Hidden-necked turtles ( Central Asian, Elephant, Swamp turtle , Caspian turtle);

Suborder 4. Side-necked turtles ( Arrau).

Squad 1. Beakheads

Representatives: Hatteria

It reaches a length of up to 75 cm, looks like a lizard, but its anatomical structure is very peculiar. The spine retains remnants of the notochord, a common feature with some of the more primitive lizards. The vertebral sections of the ribs bear uncinate processes directed backwards.

At the top of the hatteria's skull, between the parietal bones, there is a large hole for the parietal organ, which is better developed than in any of the modern reptiles and has real light-sensitive pigments. Young tuataria have teeth. With age they wear off.

Hatteria lives in holes and leads night image life, feeding on insects, mollusks and worms. Lays up to 16 eggs, which have a hard shell; embryo development lasts up to 14 months. Currently found only on islands off New Zealand. Protected animal (Fig. 3.99).

Rice. 3.99. New Zealand tuateria

Squad 2. Scaly

Total number modern species - 6600. This is an evolutionarily progressive group of the Reptile class.

The body is covered with horny scales, under which there are small bone scales. The choanae open at the front of the oral roof. Reproduction occurs either by laying eggs, which, unlike crocodiles and turtles, are almost devoid of protein and are covered with a shell, or viviparity.

The Scaly order is divided into 3 suborders: Lizards, Snakes, Chameleons

Suborder 1. Lizards

Representatives: Lizards, Geckos, Iguanas, Agamas, Spindles, Monitor Lizards, Amphisbaenas

They have developed five-fingered limbs, and there are legless representatives. But unlike Serpent everyone Lizards there is a sternum, the girdles of the limbs are preserved, there are movable eyelids and a developed eardrum.

Real lizards- one of the most abundant species of families. Typical representatives are Fast lizard And Viviparous lizard, distributed throughout middle lane Russia and penetrating farthest to the north (Fig. 3.100).

Rice. 3.100. Fast lizard

Geckos- primitive lizards leading a nocturnal, climbing lifestyle. TO characteristic features specializations include vertical pupil and finger suction cups. They are oviparous and ovoviviparous (Fig. 3.101).

Agamas have small scales covering the head, a fleshy tongue and teeth attached to the upper edge of the jaw.

Typical representatives: Steppe agama inhabiting desert areas Central Asia; Round heads having leathery folds at the corners of the mouth that can straighten out and enlarge the oral cavity. Indian flying dragon - a lizard with a thin membrane stretched over its ribs, which acts as a parachute when jumping (Fig. 3.102-3.104).

Rice. 3.101. Gecko currents

Rice. 3.102. Steppe agama

Rice. 3.103. Long-eared roundhead

Rice. 3.104. flying dragon

Iguanas outwardly they resemble agamas. They have teeth attached to the outer edge of the jaw. Typical representatives: Iguana And Phrynozoma(Fig. 3.105).

Rice. 3.105. Green iguana

Spindlefish - legless lizards, which include widespread in the European part of Russia Veremenitsa And Yellow Tummy (Fig. 3.106-3.107)

Monitor lizards characterized by very large sizes. Lives in Southeast Asia and Africa.

The largest modern monitor lizard - Komodo dragon - lives on the islands of Indonesia. It reaches a length of 2 m 65 cm and a weight of 150 kg (Fig. 3.108).

Rice. 3.106. Spindle is brittle

Rice. 3.107. Yellow Tummy

Rice. 3.108. Komodo dragon

Amphisbaena lead a burrowing lifestyle. They have a worm-like naked body. A typical representative is American Herot, retaining only the forelimbs, while other amphisbaenas lack them (Fig. 3.104).

Skinks- a family close to real lizards. Skinks are characterized by an elongated body and smooth, fish-like scales.

They lead a burrowing lifestyle. A typical representative found in Transcaucasia and Central Asia - Long-legged skink. In most other forms the legs are reduced to a greater or lesser extent; there are also legless ones.

Rice. 3.109. American Herot

Suborder 2. Snakes

Representatives: Vipers, Snakes, Boas, Asps, Sea snakes

Snakes represent a modified branch of lizards, adapted to crawling on their bellies and swallowing large prey whole.

Both the free limbs and their girdles and sternum in snakes atrophied (only a few groups retained a rudimentary pelvis, and in boas, the rudiments of the hind limbs were preserved).

All trunk vertebrae are equipped with movable ribs that rest against the abdominal scutes. This helps the animal when crawling.

An adaptation for swallowing large prey is the movable connection, characteristic of a snake, not only of the bones of the oral apparatus, but also of some bones of the skull, connected to each other only with the help of highly extensible ligaments.

Many snakes have poisonous teeth.

The middle ear cavity and eardrum have atrophied. The eyelids are motionless, fused to each other, transparent.

Rattlesnakes have well-developed specific paired organs - facial fossae (between the eye and nostril). These are thermolocators - sensory organs that are capable of detecting heat rays and determining the location of a heated body. With the help of this organ, snakes search for warm-blooded animals and birds. Thermolocation organs are also known in other snakes, for example, vipers and boas, but in the latter they look like small pits on the upper lips.

Typical representatives: Common viper, which is widespread throughout Russia and adjacent countries, Gyurza- a common inhabitant of Central Asia and Transcaucasia (Fig. 3.110-3.111)

Rice. 3.110. Common viper

Rice. 3.111. Gyurza

Boa constrictors- very large snakes, reaching up to 8-10 m . They have rudimentary hind limbs, no poisonous teeth, and kill prey by wrapping around it and squeezing it. Found in tropical countries of America, Asia and Africa.

A typical representative is Boa, found in South America (Fig. 3.112). Lives in Central Asia and the Caucasus Steppe Boa, which, despite its small size (up to 1 m), is a typical representative of the family.

Rice. 3.112. Common boa constrictor

Snakes- the largest family of snakes, including more than a thousand species. This includes Common already(Fig. 3.108), Water really, Smooth, or copperhead, numerous species Polozov.

Rice. 3.113. Common already

Asps unite extremely poisonous snakes: Aspid, Bungar. Extremely poisonous Cobra, or spectacled snake ; it is found in the southern part of Central Asia .

Sea snakes- exclusively tropical forms; of them the most famous Pelamid Pelamis platura(Fig. 3.114). Sea snakes are poisonous and feed on fish. Viviparous.

Rattlesnakes similar to vipers, but most have a rattle (“rattle”) of skin rings at the end of the tail. When excited, the snake vibrates with the tip of its tail, producing a peculiar rustling sound ( Striped Rattlesnake).

Found in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Southern Siberia Cottonmouth does not have a rattle on its tail, and is also poisonous.

Rice. 3.114. Pelamid Pelamis platura

Suborder 3. Chameleons

Representatives: Common chameleon(Fig. 3.115).

Chameleons differ from typical lizards in that they are sometimes classified as special squad. Their entire organization is characterized by extreme specialization arboreal life: paws in the form of claws, since the fingers are fused into two opposing groups, a long prehensile tail. These are invisible creatures, which is achieved by the low mobility of the animal and its developed ability change color to match color environment and changes involuntarily.

The chameleon's food consists of mobile insects, which it searches for using both eyes, which move independently of one another. Catches prey with its tongue, which can be thrown out to a distance exceeding the length of the animal's body.

A few species of this suborder are found in Africa, Madagascar, tropical Asia, and in Europe only in southern Spain. Not found on Russian territory .

Rice. 3.115. Common chameleon

Squad 2. Crocodiles

Representatives: Nile crocodile (Fig. 3.116),Gavial, characterized by a long snout and living in the rivers of India (Fig. 3.117), Alligator, And Caiman, living in America.

The most highly organized of modern reptiles. Complex device circulatory system: heart 4 chambers, 2 ventricles, 2 atria. In addition, the skull has a developed secondary palate and teeth sitting in separate cells.

Primitive features: abdominal ribs, etc. There are signs of specialization due to by water life: swimming membranes on the hind legs, valves that close the nostrils and ear openings, the velum palatine - a fold located in the depths of the oral cavity in front of the pharynx. It can close and then the animal, with only its nostrils exposed, can breathe in the water with its mouth open.

The body of the crocodile is covered with horny scutes and plaques, under which there are large bony scutes . The brain is distinguished by a large cerebellum.

Crocodiles live in fresh water bodies. During the dry season, some crocodiles hibernate, for which they bury themselves in the mud. The eggs, covered with a calcareous shell, are laid in a hole, which is guarded by the female.

Distributed in all tropical countries in all parts of the world.

Rice. 3.116. Nile crocodile

Rice. 3.117. Gavial

Squad 3. Turtles

Representatives: Hawksbill turtle, Soup turtle, Chinese turtle, Swamp turtle, Caspian turtle, Swamp turtle(330 species).

There is a passive organ of protection - a bone shell in which the torso is enclosed. The upper shield of this shell, called carapace, formed by bone plates of skin origin, with which the expanded spinous processes of the vertebrae and ribs usually merge. Bottom shield, or plastron, consists of four paired bone plates and one unpaired one, wedged between the anterior pair. The limbs have a typical structure. In contrast to the fixed body section, the caudal and cervical sections are very mobile, and the cervical vertebrae differ in the different structure of their surfaces.

The jaws are devoid of teeth and covered with horny sheaths. The tongue is fleshy. Due to the immobility of the chest, the act of breathing is performed in turtles by pumping air through the bottom of the oral cavity (convergent similarity with amphibians), but, in addition, the shoulder and pelvic muscles take part in this act: when the limbs are retracted, the lungs are emptied, when extended, they expand and filled with air.

All turtles have exceptional vitality. Most turtles are favorable time hibernate for years. They reproduce by laying eggs, which have a hard, calcareous shell.

According to their lifestyle, turtles are divided into 2 environmental groups: terrestrial, herbivorous, and aquatic, mobile, living predators.

Gangetic gharial - this is a rather large crocodile representing gharial family. The most obvious difference gharial compared to other crocodiles it has a very narrow and long muzzle.

At birth, small gharials do not differ much from ordinary ones. Usually the width of the nose is two to three times the length. However, with age, the gharial's mouth becomes more and more elongated and becomes very narrow.

On gharial photos you can see that inside its mouth there is a row of very long and sharp teeth, growing at a slight angle to make it easier for it to hold and eat prey.

The front of the muzzle of males is greatly expanded; there is something like an appendage on it, consisting entirely of soft tissue. For some reason, this very growth reminds people of Indian clay pot- ghara. This is what gave the name to the whole genus: Gavial - a spoiled “ghVerdana”.

The body length of male gharials can reach six meters, and the weight sometimes reaches two hundred kilograms, but, despite their impressive size, gharial crocodiles have never attacked a person.

The photo shows a male gharial

Females are much smaller in size - almost half the size of males. The color of the gharial's back is dark green with brown tints, and the belly, on the contrary, is very light, yellowish.

The gharial's legs are very poorly developed, because of this it moves on land with great difficulty and extremely awkwardly and certainly never hunts on it. However, despite this, crocodiles come to the shore quite often - usually this happens in order to warm up in the sun and warm sand or during the breeding season.

The gharial's clumsiness on land is more than sufficiently compensated by its grace and speed of movement in the water. If speed swimming competitions were held among crocodiles, gharials would definitely become contenders for gold.

Features and habitat of the gharial

So Where same lives this one is amazing and interesting beast — gavial? Gharials inhabit deep rivers Hindustan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan. They have also been spotted in Myanmar and Bhutan, but their numbers in this area are so small that individuals can literally be counted on one hand. By choosing deep rather than shallow rivers, gharial crocodiles look for a place with the largest number fish.

Character and lifestyle of the gharial

Gharials live in families - for one male there is a small harem of several females. And, like many crocodiles, gharials are an excellent example of parental dedication.

Particularly different in this case are mothers, who guard their own nests from the very beginning of the mating season and do not leave their children until the babies become completely independent.

Gharials are not very aggressive creatures. However, an exception for them may be situations when fighting for the attention of females during the mating season or dividing up territories. The male’s territory, by the way, is more than extensive - ranging from twelve to twenty kilometers.

Gharial food

As you probably already understood, the gharial is not capable of hunting any large animals. The diet of an adult gharial consists mainly of aquatic animals, birds and small mammals. The young feed on various invertebrates and frogs.

Often human remains, and sometimes even jewelry, are found in the stomachs of killed gharials. But it’s quite simple to explain - these wonderful crocodiles do not hesitate to eat corpses burned or buried in rivers and along their banks.

Reproduction and lifespan of the gharial

Gharials become sexually mature when they are ten years old. Unfortunately, the vast majority (ninety-eight percent) crocodiles gharials dies before even reaching three years of age. Mating season begins in November and ends only by the end of January.

First, males select females for their harem. Skirmishes and battles for the lady often occur. The larger and stronger the male, the more females in his harem. Approximately three to four months pass between fertilization and egg laying.

At this time, the female digs an ideal nest for her babies at a distance of three to five meters from the water’s edge and lays thirty to sixty eggs there. The weight of one egg can reach 160 grams, which is significantly larger than other crocodile relatives. After this, the nest is camouflaged - buried or covered with plant material.

After two and a half months, little gharials are born. The female does not carry the babies into the water, but takes care of them for the first month, teaching them everything necessary for survival. The official life expectancy of gharials is 28 years, but due to poachers, it is almost impossible to achieve this figure.

Pictured are baby gharials

Gharial animals presented in the international red book. It had such a detrimental effect on their numbers global pollution rivers, drainage, destruction of their usual habitats. Every day the supply of food suitable for them is noticeably decreasing, and therefore the number of gharials themselves is inexorably approaching zero.

In addition to natural factors, gharials often become victims of poachers who hunt for growths on the nose of males, as well as for crocodiles’ eggs. Gharial eggs are used to treat certain diseases, and growths from the nose, judging by the legends of local tribes, greatly help men cope with their own potency.

In the seventies of the last century, a government project was adopted in India (and a little later in Nepal itself) on ways and methods of preserving the gharial population.

Thanks to this legislative innovation, several crocodile farms were opened, specializing in raising gharials. Thanks to this action, since then the population of crocodiles has increased almost 20 times.

Special indicators were provided based on the results of work in national park Royal Chitavan, where at the confluence of two rivers - Rapti and Rue - they try to preserve ideal conditions for the life and reproduction of the Gangetic gharial and the marsh crocodile. Forecasts for the chances of recovery of this crocodile species are very optimistic.

Taxonomy

Russian name - gharial crocodile, false gharial, Malayan fish crocodile, Malayan gharial, pseudogharial, etc.

Latin name– Tomistoma schlegelii

English name - False gharial, Malayan gharial, Sunda gharial

Class - Reptiles or Reptiles (Reptilia)

Squad – Crocodiles (Crocodilia)

Family – Gavialidae

Genus - Tomistoma

The generic name comes from the Greek tomos - spicy and stoma– mouth and points to characteristic structure the heads of this reptile. The specific name “schlegelii” was given to the crocodile gharial in honor of the Dutchman H. Schlegel, who first discovered this animal for science.

Previously, taxonomists placed the gharial crocodile in the crocodile family, but in 2007, using molecular genetic methods, it was established that this reptile is a close relative of the gharial.

Status of the species in nature

Very rare species, included in the International Red Book with the status of “endangered” - IUCN (EN) and in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Wild Species of Animals and Plants - CITES.

Since the 1990s, gharial crocodile populations have been assessed in Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. First scientific research were carried out in 1995-1997, new data on the ecology of this species were obtained. In 2001-2002, 2 areas in Sumatra were surveyed and the Indonesian Working Group was established for the first time. Additional research made it possible to identify another breeding site for gharials and organize the protection of the swampy forest.

In 2003, an international organization was created whose task was to raise funds to study the species in the wild, as well as maintain a website and inform the world community. Fundraising events were held in North America and Europe. The study of the problem of conservation of crocodiles in this region continued. In 2009, a foundation was founded in East Kalimantan to protect crocodiles and their habitats. International organization Fauna and Flora is developing a project to restore the ecosystems of swampy forests where gharial crocodiles live.

However, despite these efforts, there are currently no long-term research and conservation programs for crocodiles and their habitats. Virtually all initiatives are carried out with limited funds, often on a voluntary basis and within a limited time frame.

Unfortunately, the efficiency of work on breeding gharial crocodiles in captivity is also low.

There are about 2,500 individuals of this species left in nature.

Species and man

The scientific description of the gharial crocodile was given by the famous German naturalist S. Müller in 1838.

This animal, despite its considerable size, was traditionally considered not dangerous to humans due to its narrow muzzle. However, if the false gharial can deal with such a large animal as a wild boar or deer, then it can handle a human too. The first confirmed attack on a human occurred at the end of 2008 on the island of Borneo, where a 4-meter female attacked and ate a fisherman. In 2012, it became known about two more deadly attacks these reptiles on people. Most likely, this is due to human disturbance of gharial habitats and the low numbers of the usual prey of these animals.

Gharial crocodiles suffer greatly from environmental degradation as people carry out land reclamation in the crocodile's habitats, turning swamps into agricultural land. Huge negative impact causes water pollution. The skin of the gharial crocodile is not valued as highly as the skin of other crocodiles, so they are rarely hunted specifically, but many animals die in fishing nets.

The main reason for the decline in numbers is a change in the habitats of crocodiles. Over the past 75 years, gharial crocodile numbers have declined by approximately 30%. , and the trouble is that known gharial populations are small, fragmented and occupy areas where intensive destruction is taking place natural environment. Therefore, the main condition for preserving natural populations of this animal is the exclusion of their habitats from economic activity.

Distribution and habitats

The gharial crocodile's historical range covered much of Indonesia, Malaysia, and possibly Thailand.

Currently gharial crocodile found in eastern Sumatra, western Java, Kalimantan and the Malay Peninsula. Since 1970, it has been considered extinct in Thailand, and may have disappeared in Vietnam. The distribution area is in the equator region from 5° north latitude to 5° south latitude. Populations of the Malayan gharial are small everywhere and are located mosaically within the range.

Reptiles live in freshwater swamps, rivers, lakes, preferring calm water and places densely covered with aquatic vegetation.

Appearance

Externally, the gharial crocodile is similar to the gharial - the same narrow elongated muzzle, the length of which exceeds the width at the base by 3-4.5 times. However, there are many anatomical and biological differences between the Indian gharial and the gharial crocodile, therefore for a long time they were classified into different families.

The body color is dark chocolate brown; there are dark (sometimes black) stripes and randomly shaped spots on the body and tail. As with all crocodiles, males are larger than females and can reach five meters in length. Typically, the length of this reptile does not exceed 3.6-3.9 meters and weighs up to 250 kg. Maximum length measured female - 3.27 m with a weight of 93 kg.

The dental “armament” of the crocodile gharial consists of 76-83 narrow sharp teeth, similar to fangs and almost identical in size.

Nutrition and feeding behavior

Despite its extensive range, the biology of the gharial crocodile has not been sufficiently studied. It was initially thought that its diet was similar to that of its related gharial, consisting of fish and small vertebrates. This idea was based on the similarity of the narrow muzzle of the gharial crocodile with that of the gharial. Such a muzzle makes it possible to make a lightning-fast jerk of the head to the side, deftly grab a fish swimming by and hold it with sharp thin teeth. But it turned out that fish is not the most important component in the diet; the false gharial has wide range nutrition.

The food for these reptiles is a variety of aquatic and land animals: fish, shrimp, pythons, monkeys, wild pigs, otters, various birds, monitor lizards and even turtles. The juveniles are content with small prey - aquatic and land insects, larvae, mollusks, worms, small fish, etc.

Like other crocodiles, the gharial hunts mainly at night, quietly creeping up on its prey.

Lifestyle and social behavior

Active mainly at night. Its behavior has practically not been studied.

Reproduction and parental behavior

The reproductive cycle has not been sufficiently studied. In total, less than 20 nests of this animal have been documented in nature. Most of the nests found in Sumatra and Kalimantan were located in the roots of huge trees in old wetland forests. In Sarawak (Malaysia), the nest was located in a destroyed forest at the edge of a cultivated field.

Females build nests from plant debris (leaves, grass, peat) about 60 cm high. Oviposition occurs in the dry season, eggs in a nest from 13 to 41 (according to other sources - up to 60). The eggs of this reptile are the largest among crocodiles, about 100 mm in diameter. Apparently, female Malayan gharials do not take care of their offspring - after laying eggs, they leave the nest and forget about their parental responsibilities. Many nests die, destroyed by predators, wild pigs, rodents and even reptiles.

The plant remains that make up the nest slowly rot and due to this, the temperature in the nest is maintained at 28-33°C. At the beginning wet season after 70-80 days of incubation, small (about 10 cm in length) crocodiles hatch from the eggs. From the first day after birth, they are forced to take care of their well-being on their own. They have to get their own food and also avoid encounters with enemies. Small gharials can be attacked by mongooses, wild dogs and cats, martens, and larger ones by tigers and leopards.

Sexual maturity in females of this species occurs with a total body length of 2.5-3 m at the age of about 20 years.

Lifespan

These reptiles can live up to 50 years in captivity, less in the wild.

Gharial crocodiles have been kept at the Moscow Zoo several times. However, due to their rarity and inaccessibility, it was never possible to form a full-fledged pair and achieve reproduction in captivity. Currently, an adult female gharial crocodile can always be seen at the main exhibition of the Terrarium pavilion on the New Territory. In 2017, the Moscow Zoo received another young crocodile, confiscated during illegal import into the country. Gharial crocodiles are fed fish, rodents, and shrimp 2-3 times a week. The amount of food and frequency of feeding depend on the age and size of the animal. Young crocodiles are fed more often and more varied.