A Giant from the Age of Serpents
A newly discovered species of ancient snake, Vasuki indicus, has been identified from fossils in Gujarat, India. Dating to 47 million years ago, the creature rivaled the famous Titanoboa in size.
Discovery and Naming
Fossils recovered from the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, Gujarat, have revealed a new species of ancient snake. Named Vasuki indicus, the species honors both the mythical serpent Vasuki and the nation of India.
The remains date to the Middle Eocene epoch, approximately 47 million years ago. Researchers Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai described the fossil material, which includes 27 mostly well-preserved vertebrae, some still in articulation. The vertebrae range from 37.5 to 62.7 mm in length and 62.4 to 111.4 mm in width, suggesting a thick, cylindrical body.
Size Estimates
Based on the dimensions of the vertebrae, researchers estimate the snake's total length at approximately 10.9–15.2 meters (35.8–49.9 feet).
This places V. indicus in a similar size range to Titanoboa, though the authors note uncertainty in the estimates.
The large, robust build suggests a slow-moving, ambush predator, similar in behavior to modern anacondas.
Classification and Biogeography
Vasuki indicus belongs to the extinct family Madtsoiidae, a group that existed from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene. These snakes had a wide geographic range, including Africa, Europe, and India.
The study proposes that V. indicus is part of a lineage of large madtsoiid snakes that originated in India, then spread to southern Europe and Africa during the Eocene (approximately 56–34 million years ago).