: a large long-snouted crocodilian (Gavialis gangeticus of the family Gavialidae) of India
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This lineage is about 230 million years old and includes modern crocodiles, alligators, and gharials and their numerous extinct relatives.—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Apr. 2025 From the Asian elephant to the gharial, there’s a staggering array of native wildlife that’s been calling India home for eons, with no shortage of iconic mammals, birds and reptiles to be found during a visit.—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Beware of giant spiders:Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season
Critically endangered
Over 1,500 gharials live in the wild in India and Nepal, according to National Geographic.—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2024 Two of the gharials hatched in mid-June and two hatched in mid-July, Poole said.—Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023 The hatchlings were the first gharials born at the zoo and only the second time a gharial has been born in the U.S., according to zoo officials.—Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023 This gnarly-looking gharial is a crocodilian.—Courtney Linder, Gloria Dawson, Dan Shapley, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2023 One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the gharial is the ghara, the bulbous lump at the end of the snout.—Emily Sohn, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2018 Already gone from more than 90 percent of its original range, the gharial is now limited to 14 populations.—Emily Sohn, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2018
Word History
Etymology
Hindi & Urdu ghaṛyāl, ghaṛiyāl, ultimately from Sanskrit ghaṇṭika crocodilian
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