Gharial

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a reptile in the family Gavialidae. It is one of the largest living crocodilians, second only to the Saltwater Crocodile, with some males growing to more than 20 feet (6 meters) long. Its long and narrow snout, with a bulbous growth at the end, makes it easy to distinguish from crocodiles and alligators.

Gharials feed on fish and spend most of their time in deep and fast-moving rivers of India and nearby countries. They are particularly agile and quick in water, but their movements on land are limited, as their morphology doesn’t allow them to lift their belly from the ground.

They are harmless to humans and threatened by extinction with a population in the wild estimated around 1,500.

The caption reads in the original French: Gavial ou crocodile du Gange.