False gharial Large Crocodile Skull Replica

Description

False gharial large crocodile skull replica measures 32.0 x 15.0 x 8.5 inches. The false gharial large crocodile skull is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of original specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA.

The false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), also known as the Malayan or Sunda gharial, is a large, slender-snouted freshwater crocodilian native to Southeast Asia.

Known for its dark, mottled brown coloration, this species can reach lengths of 5 meters (16 ft) for males and 4 meters (13 ft) for females. It inhabits freshwater rivers, swamps, and lakes, particularly in lowland swamp forests.

Key Characteristics and Biology

• Appearance: Features an extremely narrow, long snout, often cited as having the largest skull among extant crocodilians, with 76–84 sharp teeth.
• Diet: While historically considered a fish-specialist, the false gharial is a generalist predator. Adults consume fish, insects, crustaceans, and vertebrates like monkeys, deer, and reptiles.
• Reproduction: Females are mound-nesters, typically laying smaller clutches compared to other crocodiles, with limited to no parental care post-hatching.

Conservation Status

Classified as Vulnerable or Endangered, the global population is estimated between 2,500 and 10,000 mature individuals. Major threats include habitat loss (drainage of swamps, logging), entanglement in fishing gear, and direct hunting. The species, named after German herpetologist Hermann Schlegel, is found in Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java.

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Clade: Archosauria
• Order: Crocodilia
• Family: Gavialidae
• Subfamily: Tomistominae
• Genus: Tomistoma Müller, 1846
• Species: T. schlegelii
• Binomial name: Tomistoma schlegelii (Müller, 1838)
• Temporal range: Late Pleistocene – Recent 0.1–0 Ma
• Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN 3.1)

For those fascinated by unique herpetology, we also offer replicas of the West African slender-snouted crocodile, nile crocodile, or the American crocodile. Shop for more museum-quality replicas in our reptile replica store.