Which crocodilian has the most teeth?

The gharial has the most teeth of any living crocodilian, with about 106 to 110 needle-like teeth.

Its scientific name is Gavialis gangeticus, and its unusually long, narrow snout is specialized for catching fish. The teeth are slender, sharply pointed, and interlock when the jaws close, making them effective at gripping slippery prey rather than crushing large animals.

A gharial typically has 27 to 29 teeth along each side of the upper jaw and 25 or 26 along each side of the lower jaw. This arrangement gives it a higher total tooth count than the caimans, American alligators, and saltwater crocodiles listed as alternatives.

The same narrow jaws that give the gharial so many teeth are relatively weak compared with the broad, powerful jaws of an alligator or large crocodile. Gharials are also the most thoroughly aquatic crocodilians: adults spend most of their lives in rivers and usually leave the water only to bask or nest on sandy banks.