gavial

gavial
gavialoid, adj.
/gay"vee euhl/, n.
a large crocodilian, Gavialis gangeticus, of India and Pakistan, having elongated, garlike jaws: an endangered species. Also called gharial.
[1815-25; < F < Hindi ghariyal]

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▪ reptile species
also called  gharial 
 (Gavialis gangeticus), an exceptionally long and narrow-snouted crocodilian classified as the sole species in the separate family Gavialidae (order Crocodilia). The gavial inhabits the rivers of northern India and Nepal. Like other crocodilians, it reproduces by means of hard-shelled eggs laid in nests built by the female. It is distinguished by its long, very slender, and sharp-toothed jaws, which it sweeps sideways in order to catch fish, its main prey. The gavial normally attains a length of about 4–5 metres (12–15 feet). It does not attack humans but apparently does feed on corpses set afloat in funeral ceremonies on the Ganges River.

      The false gavial (Tomistoma schlegeli) looks like a gavial. It is placed by some authorities with the crocodiles in the family Crocodilidae and by others in the family Gavialidae. It is found in Southeast Asia and is also a fish-eater.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • gavial — [ gavjal ] n. m. • 1789; hindi ghariyal ♦ Zool. Reptile piscivore (crocodiliens) des fleuves d Asie du Sud, au long museau étroit élargi à l extrémité (appelé couramment crocodile). Les gavials du Gange. ● gavial, gavials nom masculin (hindi… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gavial — gaviál s. m. (sil. vi al), pl. gaviáli Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic  GAVIÁL s.m. Specie de crocodil cu botul foarte lung şi îngust, umflat la capăt, care trăieşte în fluviile din India şi Birmania. [pron. vi al. /… …   Dicționar Român

  • Gavial — Ga vi*al (g[=a] v[i^]*al), n. [Hind. gha[.r]iy[=a]l: cf. F. gavial.] (Zo[ o]l.) A large Asiatic crocodilian ({Gavialis Gangeticus}); called also {nako}, and {Gangetic crocodile}. [1913 Webster] Note: The gavial has a long, slender muzzle, teeth… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gavial — (Del fr. gavial). m. Reptil del orden de los Emidosaurios, propio de los ríos de la India, parecido al cocodrilo, de unos ocho metros de largo, con el hocico muy prolongado y puntiagudo y las membranas de los pies dentadas …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • gavial — [gā′vē əl] n. [Fr < Hindi ghaṙiyāl] 1. any of the only species (Gavialis gangeticus) of a subfamily (Gavialinae) of large crocodilian reptiles: it has a very long, slender snout and lives in N India 2. a medium sized crocodile (Tomistoma… …   English World dictionary

  • Gaviāl — (Gavialis Cuv.), Krokodile mit langer, schmaler, fast walziger Schnauze, hinten Schwimmfüße, Zähne von fast gleicher Länge, der vierte geht über den Ausschnitt im Oberkinnbacken heraus; hinter den Augen sind zwei Löcher in der Hirnschale. Arten:… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Gavial — Gaviāl (Gaviālis), Gattg. der Krokodile, mit schmaler, stark verlängerter Schnauze. Ganges G. (G. gangetĭcus G mel. [Kopf Abb. 647]), den Hindus heilig, frißt Fische, Säugetiere und Menschen …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Gavial — (Gavialis), Name einer der 3 verschiedenen Gattungen Krokodile; bewohnen Ostindien, sind ausgezeichnet durch schmale und sehr lange Schnauze …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • gavial — s. m. Réptil crocodilino da Índia e da Birmânia, de focinho longo e delgado. (Comprimento até 10 m.) …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • gavial — sustantivo masculino 1. (macho y hembra) Gavialis gangeticus. Reptil del mismo orden que el cocodrilo, de gran tamaño y con el hocico largo, estrecho y más ancho en el extremo, que habita en los ríos de la India y se alimenta de peces …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • Gavial — Nom vernaculaire ou nom normalisé ambigu : Le terme «  Gavial  » s applique en français à plusieurs taxons distincts. Gavial …   Wikipédia en Français

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