Gharial derives its name from ghara, an Indian word for pot because of a bulbous knob (narial excrescence) present at the end of their snout. The ghara also renders gharial the only visibly sexually dimorphic crocodilian. The species are largely piscivorous of all extant crocodilians. Possession of a strongly attenuated snout and rows of uniform sharp teeth supported by a relatively long, well-muscled neck makes it a most efficient fish catcher.

Dam, barrages, and water abstraction adversely affects gharial by turning suitable river habitats into marginal/ unsuitable lakes, and by altering the quantity and quality of water available to downstream river sections. Gharial, with its long, toothy rostrum is particularly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets, where it is frequently trapped underwater and drowns. Entangled gharial are also commonly killed or have their rostrums chopped off to disentangle nets and perhaps, in retaliation for damaging nets. River bed cultivation threatens gharial survival by alienating them from the terrestrial component of its habitat leading to desertion and migration. Removal of sand from riverbanks disrupts gharial behaviour and may even force local populations to desert the area. Sustained mining activity may destroy vital basking and nesting sites and may also result in direct mortality of eggs during the nesting season. Egg harvesting for subsistence food use by riparian residents at some gharial locations directly increases egg mortality, reduces recruitment, and may also facilitate additional predation by natural nest predators.

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