By NewsBlogger Scientists in India have discovered a new ancient snake species named Vasuki Indicus, estimated to have lived 47 million years ago, with a length of 11-15 meters, shedding light on the evolutionary history of large snakes.
At a glance
- A new ancient snake species named Vasuki Indicus was discovered in India.
- Belonged to the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family, with an estimated length of 11-15 meters.
- It was found in Gujarat, India, by researchers Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai.
- Named after Hindu god Shiva’s mythical snake, it is believed to be a slow-moving ambush predator.
- Discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of large snakes, expanding understanding of prehistoric species.
The details
Scientists in India have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new ancient snake species named Vasuki Indicus, which lived approximately 47 million years ago.
The snake, believed to be one of the largest snakes to have ever existed, belonged to the now-extinct madtsoiidae snake family and is estimated to have reached an impressive length of 11-15 meters (36-50 feet).
The specimen of Vasuki Indicus was found in Gujarat, India, specifically in the Panandhro Lignite Mine, by researchers Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
The snake’s vertebrae, consisting of 27 mostly well-preserved bones, were described, indicating a fully-grown animal with a broad, cylindrical body structure.
Named after the mythical snake associated with the Hindu god Shiva, Vasuki Indicus is believed to have been a slow-moving, ambush predator, similar to the modern-day anaconda.
The estimated size of the snake, between 11 to 15 meters in length, places it among the largest known madtsoiid snakes, comparable in size to the extinct Titanoboa.
While there is some uncertainty surrounding the exact size estimates of Vasuki Indicus, researchers suggest that the snake’s lifestyle was likely non-aquatic, with a low probability of an arboreal existence.
The discovery of Vasuki Indicus sheds light on the evolutionary history of large snakes, originating in the Indian subcontinent and spreading to Africa via southern Europe during the Eocene period.
Published in Scientific Reports, this significant finding not only expands our understanding of prehistoric snake species but also highlights the rich biodiversity and geological significance of the region.
Vasuki Indicus represents a relic lineage of large snakes that once roamed the ancient landscapes, contributing to the fascinating tapestry of Earth’s natural history.
Article X-ray
Sources
Here are all the sources used to create this article:
Facts attribution
This section links each of the article’s facts back to its original source.
If you suspect false information in the article, you can use this section to investigate where it came from.
| independent.co.uk |
|---|
| – An ancient species of snake, Vasuki Indicus, lived about 47 million years ago – Vasuki Indicus may have been one of the biggest snakes to have ever lived, reaching an estimated length of 11-15 meters (36-50 feet) – Experts suggest Vasuki Indicus was part of the now extinct madtsoiidae snake family, originating in India – Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee described a specimen from Gujarat, India – The new species is named after the mythical snake around the neck of the Hindu god Shiva – 27 mostly well-preserved vertebrae were described, suggesting a fully-grown animal – The estimated body length of 11 to 15 meters makes Vasuki Indicus the largest known madtsoiid snake – The back bones suggest a broad, cylindrical body for Vasuki Indicus – Researchers estimate Vasuki Indicus may have reached up to 15 meters in length, similar to the extinct Titanoboa – There is some uncertainty around the size estimates for Vasuki Indicus – Researchers speculate that Vasuki Indicus was a slow-moving, ambush predator similar to an anaconda |
| scitechdaily.com |
|---|
| – Researchers have discovered a new ancient snake species, Vasuki Indicus, in Gujarat, India – The snake may have been one of the largest ever, reaching up to 15 meters in length – The species dates back 47 million years – The research was published in Scientific Reports – The snake belonged to the now-extinct madtsoiidae family – The new specimen was found in the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Gujarat, India – The vertebrae of the snake suggest a broad, cylindrical body – The authors estimate the snake may have reached between 10.9 and 15.2 meters in length – The snake was likely a slow-moving, ambush predator – Vasuki Indicus belonged to the madtsoiidae family, which existed for around 100 million years – The species originated in the Indian subcontinent and spread to Africa via southern Europe during the Eocene |
| independent.co.uk |
|---|
| – Scientists in India discovered a new ancient giant snake that lived around 47 million years ago – The snake has been named Vasuki Indicus after the mythical snake around the neck of the Hindu deity Shiva – Fossil remains of the snake were found in Gujarat from a lignite mine dating to the Middle Eocene period – Researchers assessed 27 vertebrae remains of a fully-grown snake – The snake’s vertebrae measured between 37.5 and 62.7mm in length and 62 and 111mm in width – Scientists estimate the snake reached lengths from 11 to 15m, comparable in size to the extinct Titanoboa – The snake was likely broad, cylindrical, slow-moving, and may have been an ambushing predator – Researchers suspect V. Indicus had a non-aquatic lifestyle, but the possibility of an aquatic lifestyle cannot be ruled out – An arboreal lifestyle is unlikely for V. Indicus – V. Indicus belongs to the Madtsoiidae family that existed for around 100 million years – The new species represents a lineage of large snakes that originated in the Indian subcontinent and spread to Africa via southern Europe – Vasuki represents a relic lineage that originated in India |
