Paleontologists from the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee have revealed fossils of a giant snake that lived in India approximately 47 million years ago. Estimates suggest its length ranged between 10.9 and 15.2 meters, making it one of the largest snakes known in the fossil record.
The science website "Science Daily" reported on Wednesday, citing a study published in the journal "Scientific Reports," that the snake, named "Vasuki indicus," had its fossils discovered in a coal mine in the state of Gujarat in western India.
Discovery Details
Researchers relied on examining 27 fossilized vertebrae from its spine and comparing them with vertebrae of snakes of known sizes to estimate its size. The measurements indicated that its probable length ranged between approximately 11 and 15 meters, with variations in estimates due to the limited fossil evidence available.
Comparison with Other Snakes
These estimates suggest that "Vasuki indicus" may have competed with the giant snake "Titanoboa," which lived approximately 60 million years ago in the region known today as Colombia, with an estimated length of about 13 meters. However, researchers cannot definitively confirm that the snake discovered in India was longer than it.
Living Conditions and Evolution
Scientists believe the snake relied on ambush hunting to catch its prey, taking advantage of its massive body and strong muscles. It lived during the middle Eocene epoch when average temperatures were around 28 degrees Celsius, which helped reptiles reach large sizes.
"Vasuki indicus" belongs to the extinct family "Madtsoiidae," whose species lived in various parts of the world, including India, Africa, Europe, Australia, and South America. Its fossils provide information that helps scientists understand the evolution and spread of giant snakes across continents during ancient geological eras.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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