Why in the news?

A fossil unearthed in Gujarat’s Kutch in 2005, initially presumed to belong to a giant crocodile, has been revealed as one of the largest snake ‘Vasuki Indicus’ ever to exist on Earth.

About Vasuki Indicus

• ‘Vasuki Indicus’ is the name given by IIT Roorkee Scientists to the fossil specie.
• The name “Vasuki” derives from the mythological snake depicted often encircling the neck of the Hindu deity Shiva.

Physical characteristics of Vasuki

• It is estimated to measure between 11m (36ft) and 15m (49.22ft) in length,
• It belonged to the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family.
  • Its size could potentially surpass the extinct Titanoboa in size, with its closest relatives identified as Titanoboa and Python.
• The serpent’s large size indicates it was a slow-moving, ambush predator, akin to an anaconda, as suggested by researchers.

• • Like contemporary pythons and anacondas, Vasuki Indicus presumably employed Constriction (suffocation) as its primary method of prey capture.

Age and Geological Context:

• Recovered from the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, the fossil dates back to the Middle Eocene period, approximately 47 million years ago.
• Analysis of the well-preserved vertebrae indicates the snake’s existence during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at 28°C.
• ‘Vasuki’ is believed to represent an extinct relic lineage originating in India, with subsequent India-Asia collision facilitating its dispersal from the subcontinent into North Africa through southern Eurasia.

• • Vasuki thrived during a time when the continents of Africa, India, and South America were amalgamated into a single landmass.

Significance for India

• This discovery underscores India’s rich biodiversity.
• It holds immense potential in unraveling insights into the evolutionary process, continental shifts, and India’s pivotal role in the origin of various species, particularly reptiles.

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