Gharial Convervation Alliance


	Despite their intimidating looks, gharials are shy and generally passive animals. They do not kill and eat humans

Thermoregulation Behavior


	Gharials, like all crocodilians, are “cold-blooded” or ectothermic, meaning that their body temperature is not internally regulated, they must depend on the external environment to regulate it.
	Gharials lie in the sun to warm up (basking) or they go into the water or shade to cool down.
	They must have sunny basking spots where they can lie undisturbed.

Male gharial basking in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Photo : Suresh Chaudhari

Social Behavior


	Gharials are generally not aggressive towards each other except during breeding and nesting season, when males are territorial and females defend their nests.
	Gharials will often bask in groups, though individuals may have favorite basking spots they will defend from other gharials or mugger crocodiles..
	There is sometimes aggression between mugger crocodiles and gharials where their ranges overlap.
	Juveniles stay together in groups near the female for between a few weeks to a few months after hatching.

During fights males often clash their long snouts
Photo : Simon Maddock

Movement
	Gharials have short weak legs and are very clumsy on land and usually only come onto land to lay their eggs or bask.
	They are not able to raise their bodies off the ground and “high walk” the way most other species of crocodiles can. Instead they drag their bodies across the ground.
	Juveniles can raise the front of their bodies up while walking and during threat displays
	Gharials’ bodies are well adapted for swimming, with powerful tails, streamlined bodies, and highly webbed back feet
	They swim with their limbs tucked in against their body, using their strong tail to propel them forward.

Communication

The bulbous growth on the snout, the ghara, partially covers the nostrils, turning
hissing vocalization into a buzzing noise when air is forced through this passage.

It may also act as a vocal resonator, carrying the buzzing noise for long distances.

Gharial males often hiss and buzz while advertising territory, especially during breeding season.

When young gharials are ready to hatch out of the egg they make a grunting noise, alerting
the mother.

Both males and females will make jawclaps during courtship and mating season.

Sometimes the jawclaps may be performed above the surface.

Gharials are able to jawclap underwater, and biologists have not been able to discover
how they do this.

When distressed, for example when caught, juveniles and sometimes subadults will make a whine, groan, or “quack”-type vocalization. See www.crocodilian.com for more information and recordings of crocodilian vocalizations.

Photo : Saravana Kumar

Mating and Courtship
	Gharials are most active during the courtship and mating season.
	Males will aggressively defend their territory and advertise for mates by making hissing and buzzing noises as they patrol their territory.One researcher has described this noise as a “buzz-snort”.
	Males may have a harem of females within a territory that they defend from other males.
	During courtship males and females will follow prospective mates around until a suitable mate is decided upon.
	Courtship also involves head and snout rubbing and mounting by both males and females.