Image courtesy of WaterFrame / Alamy Stock Photo
Joel Kontinen
A Giant, 47 million-year-old snake fossils pulled from
mine in India may be the largest snake ever, potentially surpassing Titanoboa
by around 15 feet. The newfound snake was much longer than any living snake,
including this green anaconda.
“Scientists in India have discovered the fossilized
remains of an ancient snake that
may be the largest known serpent to ever live.”
The supersized serpent may have measured 15 meters or 50
feet long — surpassing the current
record-holder Titanoboa by around 2 meters or 6.5 feet, .
“The newly identified species, named Vasuki
Indicus, takes its genus name from the mythical king of serpents in Hinduism,
which is often depicted wrapped around the neck of one of Hinduism's main
deities, Shiva.”
Scientists believe that the fossil is 47 million years
old and it is a fully grown adult.
“V. indicus belongs to a group of snakes known as Madtsoiidae, which first appeared in the late Cretaceous period (100.5 million to 66 million years ago), in South America, Africa, India, Australia and Southern Europe.”
Source:
Jacklin
Kwan, 2024,
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