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Imagine a snake longer than a school bus slithering through ancient Indian swamps. That giant was unveiled as Vasuki indicus, a colossal prehistoric snake species discovered in India.
Believed to be one of the longest snakes ever to have lived, potentially exceeding the size of the famous Titanoboa, and weighing close to a tonne (1,000 kg), this ancient giant lived around 47 million years ago in India.
Unearthing a Giant
The discovery journey began back in 2005 when miners at the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, Gujarat, unearthed 27 remarkably well-preserved fossil vertebrae – parts of the snake's backbone.
For years, these large bones puzzled scientists, who initially suspected they belonged to an ancient crocodile relative. It wasn't until 2024 that a detailed analysis by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee revealed the fossils' true identity: a previously unknown, massive snake species.
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Meet Vasuki Indicus
Named after the mythical serpent king Vasuki, often depicted with the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, Vasuki indicus belonged to the extinct Madtsoiidae family. This was a group of large, primitive snakes primarily found on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana (which included modern-day India, South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica).
Based on the vertebrae size, scientists estimate Vasuki indicus reached astounding lengths between 11 and 15 meters (roughly 36 to 50 feet) – comparable to the length of a railway coach.
Further, this size rivals and possibly surpasses Titanoboa cerrejonensis. Titanoboa, found in Colombia, lived about 60 million years ago and measured around 13 meters (42 feet). Vasuki lived much later, during the warmer Eocene epoch, approximately 47 million years ago.
A Land-Dwelling Hunter in a Warm World
Unlike the water-loving Titanoboa, Vasuki's skeletal structure points to it being primarily a terrestrial (land-dwelling) predator. It likely moved slowly across the landscape, relying on ambush tactics like modern pythons or anacondas, constricting its prey with its incredibly powerful and thick body.
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What did it eat?
While scientists can't be certain, fossils found nearby give clues: potential prey included catfish, turtles, crocodilians, and even primitive whales inhabiting the swampy coastal environment.
Researchers believe the exceptionally warm climate of the Eocene played a key role in Vasuki's enormous size. As cold-blooded reptiles, "higher ambient temperatures would have increased the internal body temperature and metabolic rate of Vasuki, which in turn would have allowed it to grow so large," the study authors noted.
Significance of the Find
The discovery of Vasuki indicus is a major paleontological event as it dramatically highlights the unique biodiversity of the Indian subcontinent millions of years ago.
It also provides crucial evidence about the evolution and geographic spread of the Madtsoiidae snake family across continents linked in the distant past.
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Furthermore, Vasuki serves as a fascinating case study of gigantism, offering valuable insights into how ancient life responded to and thrived in the warmer climates of Earth's history, adding another awe-inspiring chapter to our planet's deep past.
