A long-snouted Indian crocodilian reptile with a distinctive pot-shaped growth on its snout, found in rivers of the Indian subcontinent.
From Hindi ghariyāl, derived from gharā meaning 'pot' or 'vessel,' referring to the prominent bulbous growth on the male's snout that resembles a clay pot. The word was adopted into English in the 19th century during British colonial expansion in India.
The gharial's weird nose bump (called a ghara) isn't just decorative—males vibrate it to make buzzing sounds underwater to attract females, making it one of nature's strangest instruments. These reptiles are critically endangered today, with fewer than 200 breeding individuals left in the wild, making conservation efforts vital.
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