The critically endangered river reptile of the Indian subcontinent is the gharial.
The gharial, Gavialis gangeticus, is a crocodilian with an exceptionally long, narrow snout and many interlocking teeth. This streamlined shape is adapted for catching fish, its main food. Unlike most crocodilians, it is highly aquatic and usually leaves rivers only to bask or build nests on sandy banks.
Historically, gharials occupied major river systems from the Indus and Ganges to the Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy. Today, they survive in fragmented populations mainly in India and Nepal, with occasional records elsewhere. The Chambal River is one of their most important remaining strongholds.
The name comes from ghara, a Hindustani word for an earthen pot, referring to the bulbous nasal growth developed by adult males. Gharials were once hunted for skins, trophies, meat, eggs, and traditional medicine, but modern threats focus on river habitat loss, sand mining, dams, reduced fish stocks, and entanglement in fishing nets. The IUCN has classified the species as critically endangered since 2007.