Vasuki Indicus is a massive prehistoric snake that roamed the Bharatiya subcontinent millions of years ago. An IIT Roorkee team discovered its fossil in the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Gujarat’s Kutch. It has been named Vasuki, after the king of snakes, and adorned by Bhagwan Shiva around His neck.
Vasuki Indicus, which lived approximately 47 million years ago, is now recognized as one of the longest and largest snakes in history, reaching lengths up to 15.2 meters. This remarkable discovery suggests that the snake might have been one of the largest ever, potentially reaching lengths between 36 feet (11 meters) and 50 feet (15 meters). Its estimated weight could have been as much as 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg), rivalling the largest known snake, the Titanoboa, which lived around 60 million years ago in what is now Colombia. Vasuki Indicus, named after the king of snakes in Hindu Dharmic tradition, is thought to have been similar in size or even larger than the extinct Titanoboa, previously considered the largest snake known.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study by Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai notes that while Vasuki’s vertebral dimensions are slightly smaller, its estimated total body length exceeds that of Titanoboa. The researchers describe Vasuki Indicus as a slow-moving ambush predator, akin to the modern anaconda, suggesting its large size influenced its hunting strategy.
Vasuki Indicus is classified within the Madtsoiidae family, an ancient group of snakes that once spread across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The findings indicate that this new species represents a significant lineage that began in the Bharatiya subcontinent and migrated to other continents around 50 million years ago, post-dinosaur extinction. The discovery includes 27 well-preserved vertebrae, showcasing one of the largest and strongest vertebral columns among madtsoiids.
Madtsoiidae snakes thrived from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene, adapting and spreading through the changing landscapes of Gondwanaland, which later fragmented into today’s continents. This lineage provides insights into the historical climate conditions, with tropical temperatures around 28°C likely contributing to the evolution of such large reptiles.
The study further confirms that Vasuki Indicus reached Africa by moving through southern Eurasia during the Eocene epoch, a critical period for snake evolution into large predators. Living in the marshy evergreen forests of western Bharat, Vasuki Indicus would have been a formidable constrictor, preying on the diverse fauna of its time, including prehistoric whales and crocodiles. This discovery not only highlights the rich paleontological heritage of the Bharatiya subcontinent but also the dynamic ecological and geological histories that shaped the evolution and dispersal of giant snakes.
The study details the snake’s habitat in the marshy evergreen forests of western Bharat during the Middle Eocene period, when the climate was notably warm, averaging around 28°C. These conditions, ideal for cold-blooded giants, may have contributed to the snake’s formidable size. Vasuki Indicus’ diet remains speculative, though the environment likely included abundant prey such as prehistoric whales, catfish, turtles, and crocodiles.
The fossil, initially mistaken for a crocodile due to its size, was first unearthed in 2005 but lay dormant until 2022, when a re-examination by Sunil Bajpai, chair professor at IIT Roorkee’s Department of Earth Sciences, and his postdoctoral fellow, Debajit Datta, identified it as a snake. This led to the recognition of Vasuki Indicus as the largest known madtsoiid snake, marking a significant addition to Bharat’s paleontological records.
This discovery not only highlights Bharat’s rich and diverse prehistoric wildlife but also supports theories of continental drift and climate influence on the evolution of megafauna. The researchers’ ongoing work further illustrates Bharat’s central role in the study of prehistoric life and its contributions to understanding biodiversity and evolutionary patterns.
(Featured Image Source: TV9 Bharatvarsh)
