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India.com
10-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
Gujarat's Vasuki Indicus or Colombia's Titanoboa, which is the largest snake on Earth? It weighs 1.25 tonnes, length is..., name is...
Since the formation of Earth, countless creatures have been born and have gone extinct. Snakes are incredible creatures , and there have been some studies about them in which it was proposed that there were once giant snakes weighing over 1 , 000 pounds on Earth . Two of the prehistoric snakes that usually come up in these debates are Vasuki indicus and Titanoboa. But have you ever wondered which is the largest snake to have ever lived on Earth? Well, it is… During the Paleocene epoch, around 58-60 million years ago, Titanoboa cerrejonensis , which lived in the swampy ecosystems of Colombia, is considered the largest prehistoric snake in history. According to the Times of India report, initially believed to be crocodile vertebrae, the fossilized vertebrae of a colossal snake, ultimately known as Titanoboa, were discovered in 2009 at the Cerrejón coal mines. Jonathan Bloch and Carlos Jaramillo later discovered the snake was Titanoboa measuring 15 metres (50 feet) long and weighing approximately 1.25 tonnes. Titanoboa , as wide as an oil drum, crushed its prey with a powerful bite that had a muscle force of approximately 400 psi . The discovery generated media attention and has led to a life- size model of Titanoboa now located in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. In 2005, paleontologists found 27 large vertebrae at the Panadhro Lignite Mine in Gujarat, India, which they thought were crocodile bones. After nearly nine years of detailed research, a group led by Sunil Bajpai determined that the fossils belonged to an undescribed giant snake species and named it Vasuki indicus after the mythological giant serpent in Hindu mythology. Dating to roughly 47 million years ago (Middle Eocene), Vasuki reached an estimated length of up to 15 m (49 feet) and weighed close to 1 tonne, reported TOI. Since the snake's gigantic size and Indian affiliation made 'Vasuki' (the celestial serpent connected to Lord Shiva) culturally significant, it was also an appropriate scientific homage.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Vasuki Indicus vs Titanoboa: Who was the largest snake in fossil history
Earth, our dynamic and life-sustaining planet, is approximately 4.543 billion years old. Over these vast eons, it has undergone dramatic transformations—from fiery origins and shifting continents to the rise and extinction of countless species. Among the incredible creatures that once roamed our world were the largest snakes ever discovered, giants so immense they rival modern vehicles in size and power. Two prehistoric titans, Titanoboa and Vasuki Indicus, stand out as the ultimate apex predators of their time. But which of these colossal snakes truly holds the title as Earth's largest ever fossil? Titanoboa or Vasuki: Which fossil snake was Earth's largest ever discovered Titanoboa: Earth's Giant predator Source: Washington Post Titanoboa cerrejonensis is considered the largest snake in prehistoric history, dominating Colombia's swampy ecosystems about 58–60 million years ago during the Paleocene epoch. Discovered in 2009 in the Cerrejón coal mines, its fossilized vertebrae were initially mistaken for a crocodile's. Researchers led by Jonathan Bloch and Carlos Jaramillo confirmed it was a massive snake, stretching up to 15 meters (50 feet) and weighing 1.25 tonnes. With a body thicker than an oil drum, Titanoboa crushed its prey using 400 psi of muscle force. The discovery made headlines globally, and a life-size model now stands at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Vasuki Indicus: 47-million-year-old snake confirmed in 2024 study In 2005, paleontologists discovered 27 massive vertebrae at the Panadhro Lignite Mine in Gujarat, India—initially thought to be from a crocodile. After nearly nine years of analysis, scientists led by Sunil Bajpai confirmed the remains belonged to a new species of giant snake, named Vasuki Indicus, after the mythical serpent from Hindu lore. Dating back 47 million years to the Middle Eocene epoch, Vasuki could grow up to 15 meters (49 feet) long and weigh around 1 tonne. Its enormous size and Indian origin made the name 'Vasuki'—Lord Shiva's celestial serpent—a culturally meaningful and scientifically significant choice. Titanoboa vs Vasuki: Comparison Both Titanoboa and Vasuki Indicus represent the pinnacle of snake evolution—but how do they compare? Feature Titanoboa cerrejonensis Vasuki Indicus Discovered In Cerrejón coal mines, Colombia Panadhro Lignite Mine, Gujarat, India Lived During Paleocene Epoch (58–60 million years ago) Middle Eocene Epoch (47 million years ago) Length 12.8–15.2 meters (42–50 feet) 11–15.2 meters (36–49 feet) Weight 1.1–1.25 tonnes Approx. 1 tonne Family Boidae (like boas and anacondas) Madtsoiidae (extinct snake family) Habitat Tropical rainforests (semi-aquatic) Coastal swamps (terrestrial) Predation Style Apex predator; primarily fish-eating Ambush predator; likely ate crocodilians Vasuki Indicus vs Titanoboa : Which was the largest snake to ever live Discovery sites: Where the serpents were found Titanoboa cerrejonensis was discovered in the Cerrejón coal mines in La Guajira, Colombia. This site is one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines and a rich fossil bed from the Paleocene epoch. The tropical climate preserved ancient flora and fauna, offering a rare glimpse into a post-dinosaur ecosystem. Vasuki Indicus, on the other hand, was found in the Panadhro Lignite Mine in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. This lignite mine has yielded several important vertebrate fossils, and in 2005, paleontologists unearthed massive vertebrae there—initially mistaken for a crocodile but later confirmed to be from a new species of giant snake. Source: WIRED Geological era: When did they live Titanoboa lived during the Paleocene epoch, around 58 to 60 million years ago, a time right after the extinction of the dinosaurs. This era saw the gradual emergence of mammals and the resurgence of reptiles in a world that was still recovering from a global catastrophe. Vasuki Indicus lived during the Middle Eocene epoch, about 47 million years ago, a period marked by warm global temperatures, rising sea levels, and widespread tropical forests—an ideal environment for large reptiles to thrive. Size comparison Titanoboa measured approximately 12.8 to 15.2 meters (42 to 50 feet) in length and weighed between 1.1 to 1.25 tonnes (2,425 to 2,755 pounds). It remains the heaviest snake ever recorded, with vertebrae thicker than any modern-day serpent. Its body was so massive that it likely had to stay in or near water to support its weight. Vasuki Indicus is estimated to have been 11 to 15.2 meters (36 to 49 feet) long and weighed around 1 tonne (2,200 pounds). While slightly lighter than Titanoboa, it could match or even exceed Titanoboa in length, making it a serious contender for the title of longest snake in Earth's history. Source: Reuters Evolutionary roots Titanoboa belonged to the Boidae family, which includes modern boas and anacondas. This lineage is known for non-venomous, constricting snakes that kill prey by suffocation. Titanoboa is considered a distant cousin of the green anaconda, though vastly larger. Vasuki Indicus was part of the now-extinct Madtsoiidae family, a group of large, terrestrial snakes that once lived across Gondwana (ancient Southern Hemisphere continents like India, Africa, and South America). This family had a distinct evolutionary path, and Vasuki's discovery added valuable insight into its diversity and distribution. Habitat Titanoboa thrived in humid, tropical rainforests and was likely semi-aquatic, similar to modern anacondas. The fossil-rich Cerrejón region suggests it lived in swampy lowlands, using water for both camouflage and support. Vasuki Indicus is believed to have lived in coastal swamps or floodplains, possibly in a more terrestrial setting. The fossil site in Gujarat hints at a warm, marshy environment where this snake likely hunted along riverbanks and swampy terrain. Feeding and hunting strategy Titanoboa was an apex predator in its ecosystem, primarily feeding on large fish, including prehistoric relatives of modern lungfish and other aquatic vertebrates. Despite lacking venom, its crushing strength—estimated at 400 psi—was enough to subdue large prey. Vasuki Indicus likely hunted as an ambush predator, targeting terrestrial prey such as crocodilians or early mammals. Its build and evolutionary lineage suggest it relied on stealth and sudden bursts of power, like modern-day pythons or rock pythons. Vasuki Indicus or Titanoboa: Who was truly the largest While Vasuki Indicus may edge out Titanoboa in maximum estimated length, the latter is still considered more massive in terms of weight and girth. Titanoboa's vertebrae were thicker and more robust, suggesting it had a bulkier body structure, suited for overpowering large aquatic prey. That said, Vasuki Indicus stands as a close rival, and perhaps even the longest snake ever documented, challenging long-held beliefs and offering new insights into the evolution of reptiles in ancient India. Also Read | Camel tears might hold the secret to fighting 26 snake venoms; here's what researchers found
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Strange' fossilized teeth found in Caribbean. It's a ‘giant' prehistoric species
A mystery has been building in the Caribbean. Decades ago, fossilized teeth were discovered in Cuba dating to about 18 million years ago. They were small but tapered, sharp and serrated. They were the teeth of an apex predator. Researchers didn't believe there was such an animal in the Caribbean, until they found another tooth in Puerto Rico, this time 29 million years old, according to an April 30 news release from the Florida Museum of Natural History. Still, the teeth alone weren't enough to identify the prehistoric species. Then, along a road in the Dominican Republic in 2023, paleontologists unearthed not only another tooth, but vertebrae to match, the museum said. They had an identity. It was a crocodile-like reptile 'built like a greyhound' and sometimes reaching 20 feet long — a sebecid. Not only did the Caribbean house these 'giant' predators after all, but the animals were living there millions of years after their extinction everywhere else, the museum said. Researchers described the findings and what it might mean in a study published April 30 in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The cervical vertebrae and teeth were found in an embankment along the Juan Pablo II highway when roadcuts revealed sediment from the late Miocene and early Pliocene epochs, according to the study. 'Outcrops don't last too long, so you go there when you can. When they're cutting the road or a few months after that, you find the fossils. If you're looking in a few years, it will be gone,' Lázaro W. Viñola López, a former graduate student at the University of Florida and lead author on the study, said in the release. 'That emotion of finding the fossil and realizing what it is, it's indescribable,' he said. Sebecids belonged to a group of prehistoric crocodilians called Notosuchia, a group that was all but wiped out 66 million years ago, according to the museum. With dinosaurs out of the way, sebecids thrived in South America as the new apex predator, able to move quickly on land and use their teeth to rip apart their prey, the museum said. Sebecids likely wouldn't have been able to swim from mainland South America to the Caribbean islands, researchers said in the study, suggesting the landmasses were once connected by some kind of land bridge millions of years ago. There could have also been a chain of smaller islands, making the swimming distance more manageable, for the sebecids to survive in the Caribbean, the museum said. This idea is called the GAARlandia hypothesis and suggests these connections were present about 34 million years ago. 'You wouldn't have been able to predict this looking at the modern ecosystem,' Jonathan Bloch, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History and co-author on the study, said in the release. 'The presence of a large predator is really different than we imagined before, and it's exciting to think about what might be discovered next in the Caribbean fossil record as we explore further back in time.' The new fossils were found in Sabana Grande De Boya in central Dominican Republic, an island nation in the eastern Caribbean. The research team includes Viñola López, Bloch, Jorge Velez-Juarbe, Philippe Münch, Juan N. Almonte Milan, Pierre-Olivier Antoine, Laurent Marivaux and Osvaldo Jimenez-Vasquez.
