The false gharial or Malayan gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) is a fresh-water reptile, resembling a crocodile with a very thin and elongated snout resembling that of the gharial, hence its name.

The false gharial is native to six river systems in Sumatra and Malaysia. It is also found in Borneo, Java, Vietnam, Thailand (Not seen since 1970) and possibly Sulawesi. Fossils finds in Southern China, indicate that at some this species occurred there in the past.

The False gavial like all other crocodilian species lays eggs. However due to lack of knowledge of its habits in the wild it is unknown when this species breeds and when is its nesting season. It is a mound nester. Females usually mature at 2-3 m. They lay a clutch of 30-60 eggs in a mound of dry leaves or peat. Unlike most other crocodilian species, the young receive no parental care and are at risk of being eaten by predators like wild boar, mongooses, big cats such as tigers and leopards, civets and wild dogs. The young hatch after 90 days and are left to fend for themselves.

From a morphological standpoint, it has long been classed in the family Crocodylidae; however, recent immunological studies have shown that it is more closely related to the gharial than was originally thought, and has been classed in the family Gavialidae.

The False gavial is threatened with extinction throughout most of its range due to the drainage of its freshwater swamplands and clearance of surrounding rainforests. The species is also hunted frequently for its skin and meat and the eggs are often harvested for human consumption. However positive steps have been taken by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments to prevent its extinction in the wild.

References

• Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is endangered and the criteria used

Crocodiles

Sunda-Gavial | Faux-gavial de Malaisie | Buaya sepit | גאביאל חקיין | Krokodyl gawialowy | Falso gavial | Псевдогавиал | Cá sấu Ấn Độ giả