The family Gavialidae, within the order Crocodylia, comprises large, fish-eating crocodilians known as gharials and false gharials. These reptiles are characterized by their extremely long, narrow snouts lined with numerous sharp teeth, an adaptation for catching fish. Gavialids are primarily aquatic, inhabiting rivers and freshwater habitats in South and Southeast Asia, and they are excellent swimmers but relatively weak on land. Most species in this family are critically endangered due to habitat loss, river pollution, and fishing practices, making their conservation a high priority. They are among the largest of living crocodilians, with some individuals exceeding six meters in length, and they play a key role as apex predators in their freshwater ecosystems.