Harpacochampsa (SciiFii)

The Australian gharial (Harpacochampsa fuliginosus), also known as the Australian gavial, is a species of crocodilian in the family Gavialidae that originally lived in the Bullock Creek lagerstätte of the Northern Territory, Australia during the Early Miocene as an extinct species, Harpacochampsa camfieldensis, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern rainforests, wetlands, and riverbanks, primarily in billabongs and deep pools of water, across Australia to help boost biodiversity. The Australian gharial usually grows to be about 4 meters (13 feet) in length and sometimes as much as 5 meters (16 feet) long. The Australian 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 Australian gharial's body scales are relatively large, with wide, close-knit, armoured plates on the back. Rounded, pebbly scales cover the flanks and outsides of the legs. The Australian gharial primarily feed on fish and, occasionally, turtles, however given its relatively stout build compared to other gharials, it is known to rarely take medium-sized mammals as prey. When hunting medium-sized mammals, the Australian gharial relies on deeper water to weaken and drown them. Australian gharials are mound-nesters. Females lay small clutches of 13 to 35 eggs per nest, and appear to produce some of the largest eggs of extant crocodilians. Sexual maturity in females appears to be attained around 2.5 to 3 meters (8.2 to 9.8 feet), which is large compared to other crocodilians. Once the eggs are laid, and construction of the mound is completed, the female abandons her nest. Unlike many other crocodilians, the young receive no parental care and are at risk of being eaten by predators, such as quolls, Tasmanian devils, thylacines, and dingos. The young hatch after 90 days and are left to fend for themselves. The conservation status of the Australian gharial is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and, historically, poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Australian gharial is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii