50ft ancient Vasuki indicus snake discovered India
Key Questions
What is Vasuki indicus?
Vasuki indicus is a 47-million-year-old madtsoiid snake discovered in India. It was a thick-bodied ambush predator resembling an anaconda. The fossil suggests it could be one of the largest snakes ever found.
How large was the Vasuki indicus snake?
Estimates indicate Vasuki indicus measured 11-15 meters (about 36-50 feet) in length. This makes it a rival to Titanoboa, potentially the largest snake ever discovered. Its massive, thick body supported its role as an ambush predator.
What does the Vasuki indicus discovery reveal about snake evolution?
The find shows early snake evolution and spread from India to Europe and Africa around 47 million years ago. It highlights the existence of giant madtsoiid snakes in ancient ecosystems. This challenges previous understandings of prehistoric snake distribution and size.
47mya madtsoiid giant (11-15m thick-bodied ambush predator) from India, possibly largest ever, anaconda-like; reveals early snake evolution spread to Europe/Africa.