Question

Crocodile species found in India are
(a) Crocodylus ptosis and Crocodylus palustris.
(b) Crocodylus palustris and Gavialis gangeticus.
(c) Gavialis gangeticus and Crocodylus porosus.
(d) Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris, and Gavialis gangeticus.

Answer 1

Hint: Although in the prehistoric period India had 7 different species of crocodiles, the number has come to 3 in the present time. These are mainly mugger, saltwater crocodile, and the endangered species Gharials.

Complete answer:
The 3 species of crocodiles found in India are Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris, and Gavialis gangeticus. They are commonly known as saltwater crocodile, mugger, and gharial respectively.
So, the correct answer is ‘Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris, and Gavialis gangeticus’.

Additional Information: Let us know some more information about each species:
Crocodylus porosus Also known as saltwater crocodiles, are found in coastal brackish mangrove swamps and river deltas. These crocodiles are the largest species of living crocodilians on earth. They have a wider snout than other crocodiles.
Crocodylus palustris They are also known as marsh crocodiles or muggers. These are wide snouted crocodiles as well. These are found in several freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and marshes. They have acute smelling and hearing as well as visual senses. The female ones dig holes in the sand and use it as a nest to lay eggs. They lay 46 eggs usually during the dry season. The sex of the hatchlings is dependent on the temperature during incubation.
Gavialis gangeticus These are mainly found in clear freshwater river systems where the water is deeper. These are also known as gharials or gavials. They are characterized by their long and thin snout. These mainly Asian Crocodiles congregate to mate and make nests during the dry season. They don't stalk and lung prey like crocodilians, instead they use their sensory cells on their snouts to detect vibration in the water. Currently, gharials are an endangered species.

Note: In the current time, crocodiles in India especially gharials are on the verge of getting extinct. Therefore, Odisha renewed its effort to save this species. Odisha is the only state in India to have all the three species of the saltwater crocodile, gharials, and mugger. Apart from Odisha, saltwater crocodiles are found in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; muggers are found throughout the whole Indian subcontinent; and gharials are found in tributaries of the Ganges river, the Chambal and the Girwa rivers in India, and the Rapti-Narayani river in Nepal.