GAVIAL (Garialis), a genus of reptiles of the crocodile (q.v.) family, conspicuously differing from true crocodiles and from alligators in the great length and slenderness of the muzzle. Another peculiar character is a large cartilaginous swelling at the extremity of the muzzle in the males, around the orifice of the nostrils. The teeth are very numerous, about 120; they are more equal in size than those of the other animals of this family, although some of the first are rather larger than the rest, the longest of the lower jaw being received into notches in the upper, as in the true crocodiles. The head is very broad, the narrow muzzle begins abruptly, and in it the branches of the bone of the lower jaw are united and prolonged as one. There are two great perfora tions in the bones of the skull behind the eyes, externally marked by depressions. The plates which cover the back and the nape of the neck are united. The crest of the tail
is much elevated; the feet are webbed to the extremity of the toes; the whole habits as aquatic as those of the crocodile of the Nile. The only perfectly ascertained species, G. Gangelicus, inhabits the Ganges. It attains a greater size than any other of the recent erocodaidce, frequently the length of 25 ft.; but owing to the slender ness of its muzzle, it is esteemed less dangerous than a true crocodile of smaller size. The form of the muzzle seems particularly to adapt it for preying on fish. The carti laginous swelling at the extremity of the muzzle seems to have given rise to ./Elian's statement, that the crocodile of the Ganges had a horn at the tip of its snout. Fossil gavials, different from the existing species, have been found in eocene deposits, as at Brackleshain, in England.