Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian with an extremely long, narrow snout, restricted to a few river systems of the northern Indian subcontinent. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Males develop a bulbous growth, the 'ghara', at the tip of the snout.
Range & habitat
A few river systems of the northern Indian subcontinent, chiefly in India and Nepal.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Loss of riverine sandbank habitat
- Dams and water extraction
- Fishing nets and egg collection
Why it matters
As a specialist of clean, flowing rivers with sandbanks, the gharial is an indicator of healthy river systems across South Asia.
Gallery
A female gharial with young — Critically Endangered.
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Gharial
- IUCN Red List — look up Gharial (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a gharial different from a crocodile?
Why is the gharial Critically Endangered?
Last updated: