What’s the story
A crew of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has made a major discovery in Gujarat’s Kutch area.
They have unearthed fossils believed to belong to one of many largest snakes ever identified.
The discovery, made on the Panandhro Lignite Mine, consists of 27 “largely well-preserved” bones that make up the spinal column of the snake, a few of that are nonetheless linked.
The researchers counsel that these vertebrae belonged to a fully-grown snake from the now-extinct Madtsoiidae household.
Ancient snake fossil reveals new species
The unearthed snake is estimated to have been between roughly 11-15 meters lengthy.
It is believed to belong to the Madtsoiidae household, which was beforehand identified to have existed in India, Africa, and Europe.
According to the researchers, this explicit species represented a “distinct lineage” originating in India.
When the Eocene interval occurred, some 34-56 million years in the past, this department traveled from southern Europe to Africa.
The unearthed fossils date again roughly 47 million years in the past.
Newly found snake species named ‘Vasuki Indicus’
The snake species has been given the title “Vasuki Indicus” (V. Indicus), each in honor of its discovering nation, India, and in allusion to the mythological snake linked to the Hindu God Shiva.
The findings have been revealed within the journal named Scientific Reports.
The vertebrae of V. Indicus measure between 38-62 millimeters in size and between 62-111 millimeters in width, showcasing it had a broad, cylindrical physique.
Researchers estimate that V. Indicus may have been between 10.9-15.2 meters lengthy.
Study reveals V. Indicus could also be a slow-moving ambush predator
Earlier, the crew of researchers at IIT Roorkee thought the fossil found belong to an enormous crocodile. However, they later claimed it to be that of a snake.
Not solely that, they revealed that it is potential that V. Indicus was a slow-moving ambush predator, much like up to date anacondas.
They say so based mostly on its mammoth measurement.
India’s wealthy paleontological legacy is emphasised by this discover, which additionally provides an important chapter to at least one’s data of historical life.
V. Indicus’ measurement locations it as compared with the Titanoboa
Considering its colossal measurement, researchers examine V. Indicus to Titanoboa, which was present in modern-day Colombia within the 2000s and was previously regarded as the longest snake species.
According to research, Titanoboa existed almost 60 million years in the past.
The head professor of the geological sciences division at IIT Roorkee, Sunil Bajpai, claims that Python and Titanoboa are the closest cousins of V. Indicus.
