False Gharial [Tomistoma schlegelii]
Description
The False Gharial, also known as the Malayan Gharial or Sunda Gharial, is a freshwater crocodilian with a very thin and elongated snout, adapted for catching fish. They can grow up to 5 meters in length, with males typically larger than females. False Gharials are native to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Their habitats include rivers, swamps, and lakes. They are generally solitary and nocturnal. Their diet primarily consists of fish, but larger individuals have been known to take larger prey, including monkeys and birds. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and incidental capture in fishing nets.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Reptiles
Reptilia
|
| Order |
Saltwater Crocodiles
Crocodylia
|
| Family |
Gharials
Gavialidae
|
| Genus |
False Gharial
Tomistoma
|