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INDIA, April 20: In a groundbreaking discovery, paleontologists have unearthed fossilized vertebrae in a lignite mine situated in Panandhro, western India. These exceptional stays belong to one of many largest snakes to have ever roamed the Earth, estimated to measure as much as 15 meters in size – surpassing even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in measurement.
Led by Debajit Datta, a postdoctoral researcher in palaeontology on the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, the scientific workforce has recognized the prehistoric serpent as Vasuki indicus. Comprising 27 vertebrae, with some preserved of their unique positions, this historic reptile is believed to have resembled a colossal python and wouldn’t have possessed venomous traits.
Vasuki indicus thrived in a marshy swamp setting close to the coast throughout a interval of heightened international temperatures. Scientists speculate that this huge snake, weighing round 1 tonne, employed a slow-moving ambush technique akin to anacondas and pythons, counting on constriction to overpower its prey.
Due to the unfinished nature of the fossilized stays, researchers have supplied a size estimate starting from 11 to fifteen meters, with an approximate weight of 1 tonne. Named after the snake king related to the Hindu deity Shiva, Vasuki indicus shares its colossal proportions with one other historic serpent, Titanoboa, found in Colombia in 2009.
While Vasuki indicus and Titanoboa bear related dimensions, variations in vertebrae measurement trace at potential variations in physique mass. Despite this, each serpents rank among the many largest snakes ever recorded, with their existence relationship again to the Cenozoic period following the demise of the dinosaurs.
The discovery sheds mild on the evolutionary historical past of snakes, notably the Madtsoiidae household to which Vasuki indicus belongs. These formidable creatures as soon as roamed huge areas, spreading from India by southern Eurasia and into North Africa earlier than going through extinction roughly 12,000 years in the past.
Reflecting on the importance of the discover, Datta emphasised the peaceable nature of snakes, highlighting their important function inside ecosystems. As researchers proceed to unravel the mysteries of prehistoric life, Vasuki indicus stands as a testomony to the awe-inspiring range of Earth’s historic inhabitants.
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