Researchers have recently reported the discovery of an ancient giant snake fossil in India that could have been longer than a school bus and weighed up to a ton. Fossils found near a coal mine in western India revealed a massive snake estimated to be between 36 to 50 feet in length, making it comparable to the largest known snake that once lived in Colombia.
The newly discovered behemoth, named Vasuki indicus, lived approximately 47 million years ago in the swampy evergreen forests of western India. Researchers estimate that this giant snake could have weighed up to 2,200 pounds and was a slow-moving ambush predator that subdued its prey through constriction.
The snake's backbone fragments were discovered in 2005, and comparisons with living snake skeletons helped estimate its size. While it's unclear what Vasuki ate, fossils found nearby suggest it lived alongside catfish, turtles, crocodiles, and primitive whales, which may have been its prey.
Experts note that Vasuki and another extinct giant snake, Titanoboa, lived during periods of exceptionally warm global climates. These giant cold-blooded animals required higher temperatures to grow to such large sizes. However, the rapid pace of current climate change makes it unlikely for giant snakes to evolve again to such sizes.
While the largest living snake today is Asia's reticulated python at 33 feet, the discovery of Vasuki indicus sheds light on the fascinating world of prehistoric giant snakes and their ecological roles in ancient ecosystems.
