In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have unearthed fossils in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India, hinting at the existence of one of the largest snakes to have ever roamed the Earth. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shed light on a new species dubbed ‘Vasuki Indicus’ (V. Indicus), paying homage to the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva and its Indian origin.

The excavation at the Panandhro Lignite Mine revealed 27 well-preserved vertebrae, suggesting a colossal snake measuring between 11 and 15 meters in length. This estimate places V. Indicus in league with the famed Titanoboa, an extinct giant serpent known to have inhabited prehistoric South America. The researchers speculate that due to its immense size, V. Indicus likely adopted a sedentary, ambush-based hunting strategy akin to modern-day anacondas.

Belonging to the extinct madtsoiidae family, V. Indicus represents a distinct lineage originating in India during the Middle Eocene period approximately 47 million years ago. This finding suggests a significant role for the Indian subcontinent in the evolutionary history of these ancient reptiles. The researchers propose that V. Indicus and its relatives may have dispersed from India to Africa via southern Europe during the Eocene epoch, contributing to the biodiversity of these regions.

Detailed analysis of the vertebrae indicates a robust, cylindrical body structure for V. Indicus, corroborating its classification as a formidable predator in its ancient ecosystem. Despite uncertainties inherent in size estimations based on fossil remains, the researchers assert that V. Indicus rivaled the proportions of Titanoboa, which emerged from fossil discoveries in Colombia in the early 2000s.