Osaka Gavial

Extinction in the Wild:About 370.000 years ago

Osaka Gavial in LOST ZOO

    Osaka Gavial

    Skeleton of an "Osaka Gavial", exhibited in the Museum of Osaka University.

    Osaka Gavial

    The long snout and the sharp teeth are a good hint that fish was the most common prey of this crocodile.

    Osaka Gavial

    The nostrils on top of his snout enable him to live as a stalk-and-ambush predator in the water and to hunt his prey with a sudden, rapid movement.

    Osaka Gavial

    The "Osaka Gavial" uses his extremely long tail for swimming, which can be observed in the Japanese Crocodile House in our LOST ZOO.

    Osaka Gavial
    • The Osaka Gavial (Toyotamaphimeia machikanense ) is a very large crocodile and a close relative to the False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegelii ) in Indonesia. It is the first crocodile found in Japan.
    • Body length : Up to about 8m, with a skull length of 1m.
    • Body weight : Approximately more than 400kg. Like for all gavials, Osaka Gavial males are probably larger and heavier than females.
    • Habitat : Lakes and rivers in the tropical rain forest and swamp area around Osaka, Japan.
    • Extinction in the Wild : About 370.000 years ago
    Osaka Gavial