False Gharial
Tomistoma schlegelii
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassCrocodylia
- FamilyCrocodylidae (Crocodiles)
- GenusTomistoma (false gharials)
- SpeciesTomistoma schlegelii (False Gharial)
About the False Gharial
The false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), also known by the names Malayan gharial, Sunda gharial and tomistoma, is a freshwater crocodilian of the family Gavialidae native to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and Java. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the global population is estimated at around 2,500 to 10,000 mature individuals.
The species name schlegelii honors Hermann Schlegel. The false gharial is dark reddish-brown above with dark brown or black spots and cross-bands on the back and tail. Ventrals are grayish-white, with some lateral dark mottling. Juveniles are mottled with black on the sides of the jaws, body, and tail. The smooth and unornamented snout is extremely long and slender, parallel sided, with a length of 3.0 to 3.5 times the width at the base. All teeth are long and needle-like, interlocking on the insides of the jaws, and are individually socketed. The dorsal scales are broad at midbody and extend onto the sides of the body. The digits are webbed at the base. Integumentary sensory organs are present on the head and body scalation. Scales behind the head are frequently a slightly enlarged single pair. Some individuals... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Tanjung Puting National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanjung Puting National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 2 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a False Gharial in Tanjung Puting National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a False Gharial sighting in Tanjung Puting National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see False Gharial in Tanjung Puting National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for False Gharial in Tanjung Puting National Park in our monthly data.