Gharial crocodile. Gharial lifestyle and habitat. Gharial crocodile Threat of extinction of large crocodiles

Gangetic gharial - one of the largest crocodiles in the world. He has a narrow mouth dotted with sharp teeth. This species of crocodile lives in the rivers of India, feeding almost exclusively on fish.
DIMENSIONS
Length: males - up to 6.6 m, females - up to 4 m.
Weight up to 1,000 kg.
REPRODUCTION
Puberty: from 10 years.
Mating season: end of winter - spring.
Number of eggs: 20-90 (average 40).
Incubation: 70-100 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: Stay alone and in small groups.
Food: Mainly fish, but also waterfowl, crabs and small mammals.
Related species. The Gangetic gharial is the only representative of its family. Externally, the gharial resembles the crocodile gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), which belongs to the group of true crocodiles.

Despite the breeding of the Gangetic gharial in captivity, the future of this species is rather uncertain. The animals were hunted for their shiny skin, and with the development of industry in India, many natural habitats of crocodiles disappeared. Several reserves have been created to preserve the Gangetic gharial from extinction.
FOOD . Most crocodiles are very undemanding when it comes to food. They eat almost anything that appears in the water or on land within the reach of their mouths. The gharial, however, specializes only in certain foods - it feeds almost exclusively on fish.
The English gharial hunts from cover and grabs unwary fish with its mouth lined with sharp teeth. Having caught the victim, the Gangetic gharial raises its mouth with prey above the water. If this big fish, he hits her several times on the surface of the water to tear her apart. The cold-blooded gharial does not require much energy, so it can eat once a week. Large individuals also hunt waterfowl And small mammals. They often pose a danger to people. Human remains have been found in the stomachs of some Gangetic gharials.
Gavial swallows the fish head first so that its gills do not get stuck in the throat.
Gavial AND MAN. People during for long years Thousands of Gangetic gharial were killed and bags were made from their skins. Another blow dealt to the population of these crocodiles was the construction of river dams. Electric and water stations. Irrigation plays important role in arid India, but its prey was the Gangetic gharial.
In 1975, there were fewer than 70 gharials living in the wild. The Indian government decided to raise them in captivity. People collected animal eggs and carried them to special stations. The cubs that appear here are reliably protected from enemies and are constantly monitored. After reaching a length of 120 cm, young gharials can lead independent life, so they are released into the wild.
REPRODUCTION. At the end of winter and early spring, male Gangetic gharems collect harems consisting of 3-4 females. At this time, male gharials hiss and growl, trying to scare their rivals. After successful matchmaking, the gharial mates with all the females in the harem. Mating of reptiles occurs in water - the couple gradually sinks to the bottom of the river in a tight embrace. The Gangetic gharial belongs to a number of crocodiles, and therefore lays eggs. The fertilized female climbs ashore and digs a hole at a distance of 10 m from the water, into which she lays about 40 eggs covered with a thin shell. The female chooses a place for the nest with diligence, looking for the most favorable microclimate for the development of eggs. Having laid a clutch, the female stays close, she resolutely protects the eggs from predators such as monitor lizards and jackals. The higher the temperature, the faster the eggs develop. After 70-100 days, small gharials appear. The mother, hearing their loud squeak, comes to the rescue, raking a layer of soil over the babies and pushing them with their muzzle in the direction of the water. Sometimes the female takes the cubs in her teeth and carries them to the river, holding them very tenderly in her mouth.
Gangetic gharials are born by breaking through the eggshell with a special tooth on the tip of their nose.
LIFESTYLE. The most favorite hobby Gangetic gharial - to warm up in the sun. Comfortably sitting on a sandy island, the crocodile takes a sunbath, but rarely moves away from the water.
Gavial prefers clear rivers with fast current. The gaviala, completely submerged in the water and with only its nostrils exposed to the surface, is smoothly carried away by the current. Water temperature fluctuates less than air temperature. Crocodile gharial is a cold-blooded animal, so its body temperature depends on the temperature environment. Crocodiles spend cold nights in the water. They hide under steep banks, where they linger warm air. During sleep, the gharial's metabolism slows down and the body's oxygen consumption decreases. The gharial's mouth is lined with hundreds of very sharp teeth. This is his fishing gear.
Did you know that crocodiles swallow pebbles, which in their stomachs act as millstones that crush large pieces. Hand and anklet bracelets of Indian girls are found in the stomachs of Gangetic gharials. Gharials often pick up these decorations on the shore along with stones.
The Gangetic gharial also hunts catfish, which, in turn, feed on tilapia, the main catch of local fishermen. The decline in the number of gharials has led to an increase in the number of catfish, which have almost destroyed the tilapia. Thus, fish-eating gharials began to be perceived by fishermen as competitors, although in reality they were their allies. This also contributed to the destruction of the gharial.
PECULIARITIES.
Leather: tough, hard, like a shell, is a valuable raw material for manufacturing various items. Hunting of gharial is prohibited.
Limbs: swims due to the presence of swimming membranes between the fingers. Female gharials dig a hole with their paws.
Muzzle: The gharial, compared to other crocodiles, has a narrow muzzle, studded with more than a hundred teeth. The gharial does not have lips that would prevent water from entering the mouth. Prominent nostrils allow the animal to breathe while underwater.
Tip of the nose: In males, there is a nodular growth at the tip of the nose, the function of which has not been studied. Perhaps this is a resonator that enhances the sounds of the male in mating season.
Way to travel: The gharial cannot run with its body and tail raised above the ground, as other crocodiles do. He crawls slowly along the ground.
How the gharial hunts. The gharial's mouth is perfectly adapted to making quick lunges underwater. The narrow mouth does not meet the resistance of the water, so the animal can quickly turn its side and grab a fish swimming nearby with its very sharp teeth.
LIVING PLACE. There are two populations of the Gangetic gharial: a few individuals live in the Indus River in eastern Pakistan and a large group inhabits the Mahanadi, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy rivers.
Preservation. Thanks to captive breeding and conservation, the species' numbers are gradually increasing. Despite this, the Gangetic gharial is among the species that continue to be subject to conservation measures.

Interesting facts about Gangetic gharials

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 view, included in the International Red Book with the status of “endangered” - IUCN (EN) and in Appendix I of the Convention on international trade 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 in late 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 influence 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 populations gharials are small in number, fragmented and occupy areas where intensive destruction occurs natural environment. Therefore, the main condition for preserving natural populations of this animal is exclusion from economic activity their habitats.

Distribution and habitats

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

Currently, the gharial crocodile is 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. The maximum length of the measured female is 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 diet, the false gharial has a wide range of 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 roots huge trees in old swampy 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 perish, devastated 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 first 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.

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 particularly large reptiles are very rare. Males are significantly larger than females and can weigh up to 200 kg.

The Gangetic gharial is an 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 color. 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 the temperature is high enough, the eggs mature quickly. After 3-4 months, the offspring appears, breaking through the eggshell with a 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 of the predator lies, most likely, in their clumsiness and timid disposition.

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

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 chemical substances 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.

Gharial crocodile (Pseudogavial, False gharial; Tomistoma schlegelii) - preptile from the order of crocodiles. The generic name Tomistoma comes from the Greek. tomos - sharp, and stoma - mouth, mouth; The species schlegelii is given in honor of the discoverer of the species, the Dutch zoologist Hermann Schlegel (1804-1884).

Found in Indonesia (on the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, probably on Sulawesi), Malaysia (Malacca Peninsula, Borneo), Vietnam (possibly extinct). In Thailand, it has been considered extinct since 1970. Pseudo-gharial populations are low in number and are mosaic within their range.

The pseudogharial received its name due to its similarity with the gharial - it is also different narrow muzzle, the length of which at the base exceeds the width by 3-4.5 times. The color is dark, chocolate brown, with black stripes on the body and tail; almost does not change with age. The maximum length is 5 m, although larger specimens are known. The elongated snout is a consequence of food specialization: the main food of the pseudogharial is fish. It lives in fresh lakes, rivers with slow flow and in wetlands. Spends most of its time among thickets or on drifting islands of vegetation. Studies of the pseudogharial's stomach have shown the presence of fish, insects, crustaceans and mammals (up to macaques) in its diet.

Females become sexually mature at a length of 2.5-3 m. To lay eggs, they build nests from dry leaves or peat, up to 60 cm high. A clutch usually contains 20-60 eggs with a diameter of 10 cm. Incubation lasts 90 days. There is no evidence that the female guards the nest; most of the clutch is ravaged by predators - wild pigs and reptiles.

Population status and conservation

Rare view. Pseudogavials suffer from the degradation of their usual habitats, in the place of which people create agricultural land, and from irrigation programs. Many animals die in fishing nets. In Europe and the USA, there are programs for growing this species in captivity, but effective measures to restore the population of this species are not being taken, although work in this direction is being carried out in Malaysia and Indonesia. Listed in:

• Annex I of the CITES Convention
• IUCN Red List of species under threat of extinction (Endangered).

The population is estimated at approximately 2,500 individuals.

This species is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the International Red Book.