This is the gharial, a rare, endangered, and one of the largest species of crocodile. They can be between 13-20 feet in length and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They can also live up to 40-60 years in the wild. Now why do I refer to them as the animal kingdom’s Pinocchio? While Pinocchio's nose grew longer when he lied, the gharials nose gets longer and thinner as it ages! Their noses might be funny looking, but they do have some advantages. Because of their narrow shape they resist drag in water. I know that you think these crocs are very strong, but actually they spend most of their time in the water because their legs are weak. Their legs are so weak that they can't lift their own body weight. So instead of walking on land they have to slide on their bellies! I wouldn't mind running into one of these crocs in the wild because I could run away while they are sliding slowly along the riverbed.
I think those crocodiles are awesome (they sure do look like it). I would still not like to meet them in the wild because you might not notice them, and become croc food. Like in their name the males' snout is called a "ghara" which means mature individual, so it seems that they would be smart.
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