Gavialidae is a family of reptiles within the order Crocodilia. Gavialidae consists of only two surviving species, the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), which are each the sole living representatives of their genera. They are native to India and the Malay peninsula.
Gavialids are large semi-aquatic reptiles, resembling crocodiles, but with a much thinner snout. The thin snout is used to catch fish, as gavialids lack the jaw strength to capture the large mammalian prey favoured by crocodiles and alligators of similar size.[1] They are not considered dangerous to adult humans.
Classification
Family GAVIALIDAE
- Subfamily Gavialinae
- Subfamily Tomistominae
- Subfamily †Gryposuchinae
† Indicates extinct group
References
- ^ Magnusson, William E. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 229–230. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
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