Fossils of an ancient enormous serpent known as Vasuki were found by IIT researchers

Gujarat, 21 April 2024: The newly identified snake, named Vasuki indicus, lived in the area of present-day Gujarat during the middle Eocene period, about 47 million years ago. This is a snake that can be as long as a school bus.

Prof. of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. Sunil Bajpai and post-doctoral fellow Debjit Dutta have discovered an ancient species of snake. It is considered to be one of the largest snakes to ever roam the earth. The discovery adds to the institute’s growing list of important fossil discoveries.

The newly identified snake, named Vasuki indicus, lived in the area of present-day Gujarat during the middle Eocene period, about 47 million years ago. It belonged to the now extinct Madatsoidae snake family but represented a lineage unique to India.

Found connected like jigsaw puzzle pieces
Vasuki indicus is a snake that can grow as long as a school bus. Its length can be between 11 to 15 meters. The fossils of this ancient giant snake were found in the Panandro lignite mine in Kutch, Gujarat. Of these fossils, 27 vertebrae were exceptionally well preserved. Some of these were found connected like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

When scientists looked at these vertebrae, they noticed something interesting about their size and shape. They suggest that Vasuki Indicus had a broad and cylindrical body, indicating a strong and powerful build. Vasuki indicus is about the same size as Titanoboa. A giant snake that once roamed the Earth and holds the title of longest snake ever known.

How did Vasuki Indicus live?

Researchers believe that it was a secret hunter. Like the anacondas we see today, Vasuki indicus probably moved slowly, waiting for the right moment to attack its prey. Its large size would have made it a formidable predator in its ancient ecosystem.

Vasuki lives in the neck of Lord Shiva

Vasuki Indicus is unique and is named after Vasuki. It is often depicted around the neck of Lord Shiva. The name not only reflects its Indian roots but also hints at the rich cultural heritage of the region. The discovery of Vasuki indicus sheds new light on the biodiversity and evolution of snakes during the Eocene period. It also provides information about the geographical spread of the Madtsoidae family, which was present in Africa, Europe and India for about 100 million years.

This discovery is important not only for understanding the ancient ecosystem of India but also for knowing the evolutionary history of snakes on the Indian subcontinent. Director of IIT Roorkee, Prof. KK Pant said, we need Prof. Extremely proud of Sunil Bajpayee and his team. The discovery of Vasuki Indicus adds to the growing list of unprecedented fossil discoveries at IIT Roorkee. – Sunil Bajpayee, Professor Department of Earth Sciences, IIT, Roorkee.