Vertebrate Zoology

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gavial

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

gavial , large reptile of the crocodile order, found in rivers from Pakistan to Myanmar. Also called gharial, the gavial ( Gavialis gangeticus ) is distinguished from the crocodiles and alligators by its extremely long, slender, parallel-sided snout. It feeds chiefly on fish, which it catches with side-to-side sweeps of the head. The young are hatched from eggs buried in the riverbank. Gavials are not known to attack humans. They average 12 to 15 ft (3.7-4.6 m) in length, with some individuals over 20 ft (6.1 m) long. The so-called false gavial is actually a narrow-snouted crocodile. The true gavial is classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Reptilia, order Crocodilia, family Gavialidea.

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gavial

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

gavial Reptile native to n India. It has a long, narrow snout, an olive or brownish back, and a lighter belly. It feeds almost exclusively on fish. Length: to 5m (16.4ft). Family Gavialidae; species Gavialis gangeticus. See also crocodile

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gavial

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

gavial long-snouted Asian crocodile. XIX. — F. — Hind. ghaṛiyāl (whence the var. gharial).

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T. F. HOAD. "gavial." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "gavial." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gavial.html

T. F. HOAD. "gavial." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gavial.html

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