Researchers recently reported the discovery of fossils of one of the largest snakes that ever existed, which has been named Vasuki Indicus.
About Vasuki indicus:
The fossils of Vasuki indicus were found in Kutch, Gujarat. Vasuki refers to the mythical snake often depicted around the neck of the Hindu god Shiva.
It lived in the Middle Eocene period (roughly 47 million years ago) in India.
The organism lived at a time when temperatures were relatively warm, at roughly 28 °C.
It belonged to the now-extinct Madtsoiidae snake family but represents a unique lineage from India.
Madtsoiidae are Gondwanan terrestrial snakes that lived between the Upper Cretaceous (100.5 million to 66 million years ago) and the Late Pleistocene (0.126 million years ago to 0.012 million years ago).
These snakes spread from India through southern Eurasia and into north Africa after the Indian subcontinent collided with Eurasia about 50 million years ago.
Features:
It likely had a broad and cylindrical body, hinting at a robust and powerful build, and was as big as Titanoboa, a massive snake that once roamed the earth and is reportedly the longest ever known.
It was a slow-moving ambush predator that would subdue its prey through constriction, like anacondas and pythons.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
