False gharial

Sunda Gavial ( Tomistoma schlegelii )

The Sunda Gavial or False Gavial ( Tomistoma schlegelii ) is a kind of genuine crocodile ( Crocodylidae ) from Southeast Asia. The explanation for the misleading common name of the animal is found in its long and narrow snout, reminiscent of the gavials ( Gavialidae ). The Sunda Gavial is the only species of the genus monotypic Tomistoma.

Features

The Sunda Gavial reaches a length of up to five meters. The snout is unusually elongated and has both in the upper and in the lower jaw numerous narrow and pointed teeth. His largely light to dark brown body is marked by darker bands and spots that are very clearly visible both in the pups as well as in the adult.

Distribution and threat

Sunda gavials live exclusively in fresh water in lakes, rivers and swamps. Brackish water resources are not known. The distribution area includes the peninsula of Malaysia and Thailand and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Because of fossils from Guangdong ( Kwatung ) in China, it is believed that its distribution area to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 ) comprised also still significant parts of China. Fossil Tomistomidae are but also from the United States of America and Europe known, among other finds from the Messel Pit.

The Sunda Gavial is now threatened with extinction. The " Tomistoma Task Force " of the " IUCN / SSC Crocodile Specialist Group " estimates the number of still living in freedom Sunda gavials to a maximum of 2,500 animals. The reason for the threat is habitat destruction through logging and the drying up of the peat - bogs, fishing and poaching.

Life and reproduction

The Sunda Gavial lives quietly and shyly mainly in peat swamp forests and inhabited there rivers, lakes and ponds.

There they feed primarily on fish, but also other small vertebrates such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are part of the food spectrum. The females build nests to lay their eggs hill from plant material mainly at the foot of jungle trees. Incubation period is comparable to the other crocodile species and is about 90 days at a temperature of about 31 breeding degrees Celsius. Sunda gavials lay the largest eggs of all crocodiles.