Pesquisadores identified a new species of ancient snake in sediments from a lignite mine in the Indian state of Gujarat. Batizada of Vasuki indicus, the snake lived approximately 47 million years ago and reached lengths between 11 and 15 meters. The fossil places the species in the same size category as Titanoboa, the largest snake known to science.
The fossil remains were located in Mina of Lignito of Panandhro in Kutch, during excavations that recovered 27 well-preserved vertebrae. The material belonged to an adult specimen, as confirmed by analysis of the bone structures. Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai, the paleontologists responsible for the study, published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.
Tamanho and ancestral reptile structure
The vertebrae found reveal impressive dimensions. The length of each bone varies between 37.5 and 62.7 millimeters, while the width is between 62.4 and 111.4 millimeters. Tais proportions indicate a cylindrical and robust body, characteristic of a large predator. The researchers’ calculations point to a total length of the snake between 10.9 and 15.2 meters.
A body of this size implied slow movement and a specific hunting strategy. Scientists suggest that Vasuki indicus used ambush tactics to capture prey, similar to the behavior of contemporary anacondas:
- Reduced and deliberate body Deslocamento
- Prolonged Espera in prey transit sites
- Fast Ataque and victim involvement
- Adaptação to aquatic or semi-aquatic environments
- Metabolismo supports long feeding intervals
Linhagem and ancient geographic distribution
Vasuki indicus belongs to the Madtsoiidae family, a group of snakes that dominated diverse ecosystems for almost 100 million years. Essa family emerged during Cretáceo Superior and persisted until Pleistoceno Superior. Seus members inhabited regions encompassing África, Europa, and Índia.
The study proposes that large madtsoids initially evolved on the Indian subcontinent. Durante o Eoceno, a period that extended from approximately 56 to 34 million years ago, these snakes migrated to southern Europe and African territories. Geographic dispersion suggests a lineage well adapted to climatic variations and transition environments between glacial periods.
Contexto paleontological and comparisons
The name Vasuki indicus honors both the mythological serpent associated with the Hindu god Shiva and the country where it was discovered. Essa nomenclature reflects the cultural and scientific relevance of the find to the region where the research was conducted. The fossil adds crucial information about Eoceno Médio’s reptile megafauna.
Comparações with Titanoboa, the oldest recorded snake, shows that both reached similar proportions. Titanoboa lived about 58 to 60 million years ago in today’s Colômbia. Vasuki indicus, slightly later in geological time, coexisted with a planet in climate transition, during which temperatures were higher than current standards. Essa condition favored the emergence of large reptiles.
The distribution of madtsoid fossils across several continents indicates a period when geographic barriers were less restrictive for the dispersal of large snakes. The migration routes probably followed corridors of dense vegetation and tropical climates, where these predators found abundant prey and ideal thermal conditions for metabolic maintenance.