#malayan gharial

Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Park

Tomistoma schlegelii, better known as the false gharial, Malayan gharial, Sunda gharial, or tomistoma is a species of large primarily freshwater crocodilian native to Malaysia, Sarawak, Indonesia, Borneo, Sumatra and Java. Despite its common name of false gharial the tomistoma is a member of the family Gavialidae, of which the tomistoma and the Indian gharial are the only two living members, meaning that the false gharial is very much a true gharial. Tomistoma tend to inhabit rivers, lakes, and swamps, where they feed upon fish, crustaceans, amphibians, monkeys, deer, water birds, otters, various reptiles, wild dogs, pigs, and even the rare cow. Tomistoma are themselves occasionally preyed upon by large crocodiles, tigers, leopards, and packs of wild dogs. Female tomistoma reach around 10 to 13ft (3.05 to 4m) in length and 205 to 460lbs (93 to 210kgs) in weight while males reach around 12 to 16ft (3.6 to 5m) in length and 420 to 1,300lbs (190 to 600kgs) in weight. They sport the largest skull in comparison to body length of any extant crocodilian, in large part do to there long, thin, smooth, and unordamented snout. Tomistoma are typically a dark reddish-brown coloration above with dark brown or black spots and cross-bands on the back and tail. With a grayish white mottled underbelly. Juveniles are mottled with black on the sides of the jaws, body, and tail. Breeding occurs twice a year in accordance with the wet seasons, from November to February and from April to June. After breeding females will build a nesting mound out of sand, peat, moss, twigs, and leaves typically near the water in the shade of a large tree. Here she will lay 20 to 60 eggs which will incubate for 90 to 100 days. Although mother tomistoma may sit on or near there mounds and guard them, unlike other crocodilians they offer no parental care once the young have hatched. Under ideal conditions a tomistoma will reach sexual maturity at around 20 years of age and may live up to 80.