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Gharial one of the most primitive living crocodiles,
Gavialis gangeticus, family Crocodylidae, class Reptilia. It is
so-called because its head with snout is similar in appearance to that
of a horse.
According to some, however, the name derives from the appearance
of a large hollow cartilaginous octagonal protuberance on the
end of its snout near the nasal cavity, resembling an earthen
pot, or Ghara. The specific trival name is due to its presence
in the river ganges.
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Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus
Courtesy: M Monirul H
Khan |
Gharial is a shy and benign aquatic reptile measuring
4 to 7 m in length. This animal is distributed in the major rivers of
Indian subcontinent. In Bangladesh it was once distributed in padma,
jamuna,
brahmaputra
and their tributaries. However, the animal is now a very rare sight. Fossil
forms have been described from Siwalik Hills and Narbodavalleys from Pliocene
deposits. This group of animals have maintained their stature unaltered
since their appearance in the Jurassic Era.
Long and slender snout is a very prominent feature of
Gharial. The upper jaw houses about 50 small sharp teeth, while the lower
jaw has about 48. The teeth are adapted to prey on common fishes and aquatic
birds. Sometimes it seizes goats and dogs which visit the bank of rivers.
Forty or more eggs are deposited on the bank of river in holes scooped
out and afterwards covered by sand. The young appears in March-April and
measures about 40 cm including the tail.
Unlike other crocodiles, Gharials spend little time basking on the land. Their limbs are not well adapted for walking on land like their cousins. Their forelimbs are conspicuously shorter and smaller than their hind limbs. All the five fingers are webbed and well-developed. The tail is robust and strong, and adapted for swimming.
The Hindus used to sacrifice Gharials to the god Vishnu.
It was regarded as a very sacred animal and they would not slaughter them
for other purposes. With the change of their outlook, people started to
poach them for their armoured skin. Ladies bag, shoes, decoration pieces,
etc made of Gharial skin fetch lucrative sums abroad. As a result, their
population has declined at an alarming rate. The species is now listed
as critically endangered in Bangladesh. [Md Sohrab Ali]
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