– Scientists have discovered the fossil remains of a giant prehistoric snake from a mine in India. The snake, named Vasuki indicus, lived around 47 million years ago.
– The fossil consists of 27 vertebrae that have been dated to the Eocene period. Based on measurements of the vertebrae, scientists estimate Vasuki was 11-15 meters (36-49 feet) long, larger than a Tyrannosaurus rex.
– Researchers believe Vasuki would have looked similar to modern pythons. As a constrictor, it subdued prey with its size rather than venom. Its large size suggests it may have preyed on crocodilians and other animals found in the region.
– Vasuki belongs to the extinct snake family Madtsoiidae. These giant snakes lived from the late Cretaceous period through the Miocene, but went extinct around 12,000 years ago.
– At nearly 50 feet long, Vasuki rivals Titanoboa, another prehistoric snake discovered in Colombia that lived around 58-60 million years ago. Both would have been among the longest snakes to ever exist.
– The discovery provides new insight into the diversity of giant snake species that lived in Asia during the early Cenozoic era following the demise of the dinosaurs.
Source: telegraph
