[1] The family Gavialidae was proposed by Arthur Adams in 1854 for reptiles with a very long and slender muzzle, webbed feet and nearly equal teeth.

This classification was based on morphological studies primarily focused on analyzing skeletal traits of living and extinct fossil species.

[4] However, recent molecular studies using DNA sequencing have rejected Brevirostres upon finding the crocodiles and gavialids to be more closely related than the alligators.

The false gharial and other tomistomines were traditionally classified within the superfamily Crocodyloidea as close relatives of crocodiles, based solely on morphological evidence.

[3] The below cladogram from latest study shows Gavialidae's placement within Crocodylia: extinct basal Alligatoroids† Caiman Melanosuchus Paleosuchus Alligator "Crocodylus" megarhinus† Crocodylus Mecistops Osteolaemus Kentisuchus† Maroccosuchus† Paratomistoma† Dollosuchoides† Tomistoma cairense† Gavialis Tomistoma Here is a more detailed cladogram that shows the proposed phylogeny of Gavialidae including extinct members:[11] Crocodyloidea †Maroccosuchus zennaroi †Megadontosuchus arduini †Dollosuchoides densmorei †Xaymacachampsa kugleri †Kentisuchus astrei †Kentisuchus spenceri †Tomistoma cairense †Tomistoma coppensi †Maomingosuchus petrolica Tomistoma schlegelii, false gharial †Tomistoma lusitanicum †Gavialosuchus eggenburgensis †Melitosaurus champsoides †Tomistoma calaritanum †Tomistoma gaudense †Thecachampsa carolinensis †Thecachampsa antiqua †Paratomistoma courti †Penghusuchus pani †Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis †Hanyusuchus sinensis †Eosuchus lerichei †Eosuchus minor †Ocepesuchus eoafricanus †Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis †Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus †Thoracosaurus neocesariensis †Aktiogavialis puertoricensis †Eogavialis africanum †Argochampsa krebsi †Piscogavialis jugaliperforatus †Ikanogavialis gameroi †Siquisiquesuchus venezuelensis †Dadagavialis gunai †Gryposuchus neogaeus †Gryposuchus croizati †Aktiogavialis caribesi †Gryposuchus pachakamue †Gryposuchus colombianus †Rhamphosuchus crassidens †Myanmar gavialid †Gavialis lewisi †Gavialis bengawanicus Gavialis gangeticus, gharial †Siwalik Gavialis Family Gavialidae † Indicates extinct group