They have also adapted to live in reservoirs, irrigation canals, and other man-made bodies of freshwater in India and Sri Lanka. Occasionally reported from saltwater lagoons. Sympatric with Gavialis gangeticus in some areas of India, but usually separated by habitat. Also known to dig burrows for shelter. Colour generally light tan in juveniles, with black cross-banding on body and tail.
Adults are generally grey to brown, with little banding remaining.
The snout is the broadest of any member of the Crocodylus genus, giving the mugger a more alligatorine appearance. Enlarged scutes present around the throat area may serve a similar protective function when moving through shallow swampy areas as they do in Alligator mississippiensis . It is generally thought of as having a similar ecology to A. mississippiensis which may account for morphological similarities. Juveniles take crustaceans, insects and small fish generally. Large adults have been known to take deer and buffalo on occasions.