Prehistoric snake Vasuki indicus discovered in India may rival Titanoboa

A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may have been one of the largest ever to exist. Known as Vasuki indicus, the ancient reptile lived approximately 47 million years ago and could have reached lengths of up to 15.2 meters (50 feet). This size places it in the same range as Titanoboa, the extinct snake long regarded as the largest ever discovered.

Discovery and Physical Characteristics

The discovery was described in 2024 in the journal Scientific Reports. Paleontologists Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai of the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee identified the species from fossils recovered at the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, Gujarat. The remains date to the Middle Eocene, a period when Earth's climate was considerably warmer than it is today.

Researchers examined 27 fossilized vertebrae, many of which were remarkably well preserved and remained connected in their original arrangement. The bones appear to have belonged to a fully grown animal. Individual vertebrae measured between 37.5 and 62.7 millimeters (1.48 and 2.47 inches) long and between 62.4 and 111.4 millimeters (2.46 and 4.39 inches) wide. Their unusually broad shape suggests that Vasuki possessed a thick, cylindrical body capable of supporting tremendous weight.

To estimate its total length, the researchers compared the fossilized bones with vertebrae from living snakes whose body lengths are known. Two different methods produced estimates ranging from 10.9 to 12.2 meters (36 to 40 feet) and 14.5 to 15.2 meters (48 to 50 feet). However, the researchers caution that their calculations involve considerable uncertainty. It remains unclear whether Vasuki actually exceeded Titanoboa in length.

Hunting Behavior and Habitat

Despite its intimidating size, Vasuki probably was not a particularly fast or agile hunter. The researchers suggest that its enormous body and distinctive vertebral structure would have favored relatively slow movement. Rather than actively chasing prey, the snake may have relied on ambush tactics, remaining concealed until another animal came within striking distance.

Its hunting behavior could have resembled that of modern anacondas and large pythons, which can overpower prey through constriction. Scientists suspect Vasuki may have hunted in a similar way, although its precise diet and hunting behavior cannot be determined from the surviving fossils. Its anatomy also suggests that the snake may have spent much of its time on land or in shallow, swampy environments, rather than living exclusively in water.

Evolutionary Context

The species was named Vasuki indicus in honor of Vasuki, the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva. The second part of the name refers to India, where the fossils were discovered.

Vasuki belonged to Madtsoiidae, an extinct family of snakes that survived for roughly 100 million years, from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene. Members of this group occupied regions including India, Africa, Europe, South America, and Australia. The researchers found that its closest relatives included Madtsoia pisdurensis, a fossil snake from ancient India, and Gigantophis garstini, another large prehistoric snake known from North Africa.

These relationships suggest that a lineage of giant madtsoiid snakes originated on the Indian subcontinent before spreading into other parts of the world. As India moved northward and collided with Asia around 50 million years ago, changing geographic connections may have allowed these snakes to disperse through southern Eurasia and eventually into Africa during the Eocene, approximately 56 to 34 million years ago.

Why it matters

The discovery provides evidence of an ancient branch of snake evolution and helps scientists reconstruct ecosystems from tens of millions of years ago. During the Middle Eocene, the region where Vasuki lived experienced tropical conditions, with average temperatures estimated at approximately 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). While warm environments can support the growth of large reptiles, the study notes that temperature alone does not determine how large a snake can become. Food availability, suitable habitat, and evolutionary history also influence body size. The findings highlight a diverse community of ancient reptiles in western India, including aquatic snakes and other extinct groups, rather than an isolated evolutionary oddity.

---

Sources

• sciencedaily.com: Gigantic prehistoric snake discovered in India may have been one of the largest ever | ScienceDaily
• news.ssbcrack.com: Colossal Prehistoric Snake Discovered in India May Rival Titanoboa - SSBCrack News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.