Gryposuchus (SciiFii)

The South American giant gharial (Gryposuchus brazilensis) is a species of gavialid crocodilian that originally lived from Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and the Peruvian Amazon during the Miocene epoch (Colhuehuapian to Huayquerian) as an extinct species, Gryposuchus croizati, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout the modern tropical and subtropical rainforests, wetlands, riverbanks, and coastal regions across South America to help boost biodiversity. Growing to the length of 10 metres (33 feet) long and weighing up to 1.9 tons (3,847 lbs), it is one of the largest crocodilians and among the largest gharials to have existed. Like other gharials, the South American giant gharial has a particularly long and narrow snout and ‬is known to eat almost entirely on large fish when fully grown.‭ ‬The South American giant gharial is active in both coastal and freshwater locations,‭ ‬further increasing its ability to find prey,‭ also, albeit rarely, including marine mammals into their diet. Despite its massive size, the South American giant gharial has never been recorded eating humans, most likely due to the fact that humans have a bitter taste to the giant gharial's taste buds on its tongue. South American giant gharials are mound-nesters. Females lay small clutches of 13 to 35 eggs per nest. Sexual maturity in females appears to be attained around 4.2 to 4.7 meters (13.7 to 15.4 feet), which is large compared to other crocodilians. South American giant gharials breed as early as February and generally start nesting during early spring. Once the eggs are laid, and construction of the mound is completed, the female abandons her nest. Unlike most other crocodilians, the young receive no parental care and are at risk of being eaten by predators, such as tayras, jaguars, pumas, bush dogs, and crab-eating foxes. The young hatch after 90 days and are left to fend for themselves. The conservation status of the South American giant gharial is Vulnerable due to habitat loss and poaching, however, thanks to conservationists, the South American giant gharial is a protected species and is making a comeback, largely in part due to captive breeding programs.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii