Kutch Snake Fossils: Scientists have estimated that these giant snake (Vasuki Indicus) were approximately 11 to 15 meters (50 feet) long and weighed up to one ton.
Largest Snake Fossil found in India
Like the giant dinosaur ‘T-Rex’, giant snakes also roamed freely on our planet. In the Puranas, there is a reference to the serpent ‘Vasuki’ during the churning of the sea. Until now, it was only looked at as a mythological idea, but researchers have proven that the giant snake actually existed on this earth.
Scientists at IIT Roorkee excavated in Gujarat in 2005 and discovered a fossilized vertebra of a giant reptile, which proved to be a giant snake. After seeing the size of these fossils, the researchers have named it as ‘Vasuki Indicus’. The researchers say that this latest research will help us understand the formation and evolution of other reptiles in the Vasuki family. Researchers have discovered the remains of 27 vertebrae of a snake. Some of the snakes in this family were as gigantic as pythons, but they were not very venomous, researchers say.
#Researchers at #IIT Roorkee have discovered fossils of Vasuki Indicus, believed to be one of the #largest snakes ever. The snake is estimated to have lived 47 million years ago.https://t.co/hWldVVNhFl
— India Today NE (@IndiaTodayNE) April 20, 2024
Weight up to one ton
Scientists have estimated that these giant snakes were approximately 11 to 15 meters (50 feet) long and weighed up to one ton. This research has been published in the journal Scientific Report. Being large in size, Vasuki hunted slowly like anaconda and python.
The earth was probably warmer then than it is now, so these snakes must have lived in swampy areas. Seeing the large size of this fossil, we named it ‘Vasuki’.
– Devjit Dutt, Researcher IIT Roorkee
Comparison with ‘Titanoboa’
This Vasuki should be about the same size as the Titanoboa snake, which lived in Colombia about 60 million years ago. It was also 43 feet long and weighed one ton. A recently discovered snake fossil can only be compared to it. Until now, snakes up to 10 meters (33 ft) in length were thought to exist in Asia in primitive times. Although the area where these fossils are found today is arid and dusty, scholars have speculated that when Vasuki actually existed, the area must have been swampy.
Also read this:
• Delivery boys are not off on voting day; Complaint against Flipkart and Big Basket
