Gharials' Appetite For Turtles: A Reptile's Diet Explored

The gharial, also known as the Indian gharial, gavial, or fish-eating gharial, is a large reptile and member of the crocodilian family. It is easily recognisable by its long, slender snout, which is lined with small, interlocking, and incredibly sharp teeth. Male gharials have a distinctive bump at the end of their snouts, which is used for attracting mates and making vocalisations. Although gharials primarily feed on fish, there have been rare reports of them eating soft-shell turtles, birds, small mammals, and plant material.

What do gharials eat?

Gharials are large reptiles and members of the crocodilian family. They are primarily fish-eaters, and their long, thin snouts are perfectly adapted to capturing fish. They lie in wait and then snap their powerful jaws shut, using their sharp, interlocking teeth to sink into their prey. Gharials do not chew their food, instead swallowing it whole.

Gharials are also known to eat aquatic frogs, waterfowl, crustaceans, and, in rare cases, small mammals, birds, plant material, and soft-shell turtles. Young gharials eat tadpoles and invertebrates in addition to fish.

Gharials are carnivores, and their diet is heavily influenced by their habitat and surroundings. They are highly specialised predators, and their odd-looking snout is perfectly adapted to hunting fish. They are found in the rivers of the Indian subcontinent, in places like Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Gharials are considered critically endangered due to severe population declines over the past 100 years. They are now a protected species, but they are still affected by habitat loss and fishing nets.

What is a gharial?

The gharial, or gavial, is a large reptile and a type of Asian crocodilian. It is distinguished by its long, thin snout, which is lined with small and incredibly sharp interlocking teeth. Male gharials have a bulbous growth on the end of their long snout, which is used for vocalisations and blowing air bubbles under water during mating displays.

Gharials are one of the longest of all living crocodilians, with males reaching 16 to 20 feet in length and females typically growing to 11.5 to 15 feet. They are olive-coloured, with adults darker than the young, which have dark brown cross bands and speckles. Their back turns almost black at 20 years of age, but their belly is yellowish-white.

Gharials are native to the Indian subcontinent, with fossil remains found in the Sivalik Hills and the Narmada River valley. They inhabit freshwater river systems, congregating at river bends where the water is deeper. They are not well-suited to land, so they generally only leave the water to bask in the sun or to nest. They are cold-blooded, so they bask in the sun to warm up and rest in the shade or water to cool down.

Gharials are carnivorous and primarily eat fish, using their long, thin snouts to detect vibrations in the water that signal approaching prey. They also eat aquatic birds, small mammals, and turtles. Gharials do not chew their food, instead swallowing it whole.

Gharials are listed as critically endangered, with their population declining by up to 98% since the 1940s due to human activities such as hunting and changes to their freshwater habitats.

Are gharials dangerous?

Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are not considered dangerous to humans. They are very shy and tend to hide from people. Their narrow snout shape means they are unable to hunt people. However, their habitats may overlap with the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), which has been known to attack humans.

Gharials are carnivorous reptiles that primarily feed on fish in the water. They are highly specialised predators, with long, thin snouts containing over 100 small, razor-sharp teeth that are perfectly adapted to capturing fish. They lie in wait and then snap their powerful jaws shut, often swallowing their prey whole. Gharials also occasionally eat aquatic birds, small mammals, and soft-shell turtles.

Young gharials that are still refining their hunting techniques may feed on small crustaceans and frogs. Juvenile gharials eat tadpoles, invertebrates, and fish.

Gharials are one of the longest of all living crocodilians, with mature males reaching up to 6 metres in length and weighing an average of about 160 kg. They are found in the rivers of the Indian subcontinent and are listed as critically endangered.

Where do gharials live?

Gharials are native to the Indian subcontinent and are currently found only in India and Nepal. They inhabit freshwater river systems, congregating at river bends where the water is deeper. They live in wide and calm slow-moving rivers, and are not well-suited for life on land. They leave the water only to bask in the sun on the muddy banks and to build nests.

Historically, gharials were found throughout the Indian subcontinent, from Pakistan in the west to Myanmar in the east and as far south as India. Today, their range has shrunk to two countries: India and Nepal.

In India, gharials can be found in the following river systems:

• Chambal River
• Girwa River
• Son River
• Ramganga River
• Ganges
• Gandaki River
• Yamuna River
• Mahanadi River
• Koshi River

In Nepal, small populations of gharials are present in tributaries of the Ganges, such as the Karnali-Babai River system in Bardia National Park and the Narayani-Rapti river system in Chitwan National Park.

Are gharials facing extinction?

Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are considered critically endangered, with their population declining by up to 98% over the past century. They are native to the Indian subcontinent and were once widespread across major river basins such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi. Today, they are confined to small and fragmented populations in northern India and Nepal, with an estimated 600-900 mature adults remaining in the wild.

The primary factors contributing to the decline of gharials are habitat loss and river degradation due to human activities such as agriculture, settlements, pollution, and sand mining. Gharials are highly dependent on riverine ecosystems, and changes in river flow, loss of breeding spots, and unsustainable fishing practices have impacted their ability to repopulate. They are also threatened by hunting and trade for their skins, as well as entanglement in fishing nets.

Gharials are easily recognisable among crocodilians due to their long, slender snouts, which make them well-adapted for catching fish. They are considered excellent parents in the animal kingdom, with both males and females guarding their offspring from predators.

Conservation efforts are underway in India and Nepal, with breeding and rehabilitation centres working to protect this ancient species from extinction. These initiatives focus on captive breeding programs, river conservation, and engaging local communities in sustainable practices to reduce the competition for fish and persecution of gharials.

Frequently asked questions