Gavialidae – Gharial

Found exclusively in the tropical river ecosystems of South Asia (including Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh but mainly India). Gharials carry an especially slender snout apt only for catching small preys like fishes, unlike other crocodilians. Gharials are also unique in that their males wield a distinct knob at the tip of their snout. This characteristic knob called narial excrescence is responsible for producing a buzzing sound that proves to be a decider during courtships. They are also one of the largest crocodilians.

Gharials are often portrayed as the vehicle of goddess Ganga, an Himalayan River flowing across India and Bangladesh. From appearing as a cultural symbol to appearing on the ICUN red list as an endangered species, gharials appear to have endured a lot.