Gavialidae

Eumetazoa

Gavialidae is a family of reptiles within the order Crocodilia. Gavialidae consists of only one surviving species, the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), which is native to India. Many extinct species are also known. The false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) has sometimes been viewed as a member of this family due to general similarities in morphology and habit, but it is usually thought to be a member of the Crocodylidae family based on several characters including skull morphology. However, recent genetic studies show that the two species are very closely related, suggesting that they may in fact be in the same family.

Gavialids are large semi-aquatic reptiles, resembling crocodiles, but with a much thinner snout. The thin snout is used to catch fish, as gavialids lack the jaw strength to capture the large mammalian prey favoured by crocodiles and alligators of similar size.^[1]

Classification

Family Gavialdiae

• Subfamily Gavialinae
  • Genus †Eogavialis
    • †Eogavialis africanus
    • †Eogavialis andrewsi
  • Genus Gavialis
    • Gavialis gangeticus, gharial
• Subfamily †Gryposuchinae
  • Genus †Aktiogavialis
  • Genus †Gryposuchus
  • Genus †Ikanogavialis
  • Genus †Siquisiquesuchus
  • Genus †Piscogavialis
  • Genus †Hesperogavialis

In addition, the tomistomines might belong to this group or to Crocodylidae:

• Subfamily Tomistominae
  • Genus †Kentisuchus
  • Genus †Gavialosuchus
  • Genus †Paratomistoma
  • Genus †Thecachampsa
  • Genus †Rhamphosuchus
  • Genus Tomistoma
    • Tomistoma schlegelii, false gharial or Malayan gharial
    • †Tomistoma lusitanicum
    • †Tomistoma cairense
  • Genus †Toyotamaphimeia

† Indicates extinct group

References