In Indian Hindu mythology, Vasuki is a divine giant serpent and the god of snakes. One of the Nagas, or snake people, Vasuki, was gigantic and terrifying, but as a deity, Vasuki symbolizes wealth, fertility, and divine protection. It was only fitting that the world’s largest snake fossil discovered recently in India has been named Vasuki Indicus.
Giant Snake Fossil Unearthed in Gujarat, India
In a groundbreaking discovery in April 2024, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, discovered the unearthed fossilized remains of a colossal snake in Gujarat’s Panandhro Lignite Mine, Kutch. The newly identified species, Vasuki indicus, dates back 47 million years during the warm Eocene period of India. The fascinating discovery makes it one of the largest snakes ever found, even larger than the famous Titanoboa.
The Ancient Serpent
The fossil, belonging to the extinct Madtsoiidae family, was estimated to be 11 meters ( 36 feet) to 15 meters (50 feet) long and weighed 2200 pounds (1,000 Kg). This giant snake lived during the Middle Eocene period when temperatures were warmer, possibly driving the evolution of large body sizes. To put that in perspective, the largest snake on earth, the reticulated python, grows up to 6 meters (20 feet) long. The King Cobra, India’s deadliest snake, reaches an estimated size of 5.6 meters(18 feet) long.
Fossil Discovery
Vasuki’s fossils include 27 vertebrae, some preserved in excellent condition, allowing researchers to estimate the snake’s massive size. The vertebrae range in size from 37.5 to 62.7 millimeters in length and 62.4 to 111.4 millimeters in width, indicating a broad, cylindrical body.
Significance of the Find
This discovery of vasuki has significant implications for understanding the biogeography and evolution of madtsoiid snakes, particularly in the context of Gondwanan landmass dispersal. It suggests that Vasuki indicus might have been more of an ambush predator, like modern anacondas and giant pythons, rather than an active forager. It lived 47 million years ago in western India, a region that consisted of swampy tropical forests. Parts of Vasuki’s backbone were first discovered in Western India in 2005 by study co-author Sunil Bajpai, Chair Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology in the Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
Comparisons to Titanoboa
The researchers believe that Vasuki could rival the infamous Titanoboa, previously considered the largest snake ever discovered. However, they acknowledge uncertainties in the size estimates and suggest that more fossil evidence is needed to confirm the exact dimensions. The Titanoboa lived around 60 million years ago and was approximately 13 meters (42 feet) long and weighed 2,500 pounds (1,135 kg).
India’s Jurassic Park
India has rarely been highlighted as a country of fossil discoveries, yet the region of Kutch in Gujrat, a western state, is known as India’s Jurassic Park. Incidentally, the area happens to be the second-largest hatchery of dinosaur eggs in the world. Now developed into a fossil park, evidence has shown how several dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus (T-Rex), the Megalosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Titanosaurus, Baraspauras, Antaractosaurus, and Stegosaurus, roamed the region. Hundreds of fossilized eggs, some resembling cannonballs, have been found in the park.
About Vasuki
Vasuki, often depicted with a gem called Nagamani on his head, symbolizes divine wisdom and enlightenment. He is considered a king of the Nagas, the snake people, embodying a protective and benign nature. He is closely associated with the Hindu god Shiva, often shown coiled around Shiva’s neck, representing the control over desires and ego. Revered across India, Vasuki features in texts like the Mahabharata and Puranas, symbolizing cosmic energy, devotion, and self-sacrifice, particularly for his role in assisting the Devas during the churning of the ocean.
Future Research
The discovery of Vasuki Indicus emphasizes the need for further exploration of Late Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits in India. Additional findings could provide more insights into the systematics and biogeography of these ancient snakes, further enriching our understanding of prehistoric life.
The study on Vasuki was published in the Journal Scientific Reports on 18th April 2024 and co-authored by Professors Debajit Dutta and Sunil Bajpai of IIT, Roorkee.
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