At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The tomistoma, or false gharial, is a slender-snouted crocodilian of Southeast Asian swamps. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
Its very narrow snout suits catching fish, like the true gharial it resembles.
Range & habitat
Freshwater swamps and rivers of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Habitat loss including peat-swamp drainage
- Fishing-net entanglement
- Egg collection
Why it matters
A specialised freshwater crocodilian of vanishing peat swamps, the tomistoma is a flagship for Southeast Asia's threatened wetland forests.
Sources
Sources for Tomistoma
- IUCN Red List — look up Tomistoma (authoritative status)
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tomistoma a true gharial?
No. It is called the 'false gharial' because its long, slender snout resembles the gharial's, but it is a separate species; its exact relationships have long been debated.
Why is the tomistoma Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite habitat loss (especially drainage of peat swamps), entanglement in fishing nets, and egg collection. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: