Discovery of Vasuki indicus
Scientists in India have uncovered the fossilized remains of a colossal snake species named Vasuki indicus, which roamed the Earth around 47 million years ago. Research based on 27 fossilized vertebrae suggests this snake could have stretched between 10.9 and 15.2 meters in length. These fossils were discovered in the Panandhro coal mine located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Paleontologists Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai led the study that identified this previously unknown species.
Family Lineage and Habitat
Vasuki indicus belonged to the extinct family of madtsoiid snakes, which thrived for approximately 100 million years across multiple continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and Australia. For comparison, the famous Titanoboa, which lived about 60 million years ago in what is now Colombia, reached lengths of up to 13 meters.
The ancient environment where Vasuki indicus lived was characterized by a tropical climate, with average temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius. Although various methods were used to estimate the snake’s size, the exact dimensions, appearance, and behavior remain uncertain. The species’ name honors the mythical serpent Vasuki, associated with the Hindu god Shiva.
The findings, published in 2025 in the Journal of Paleontology, add valuable insights into the diversity of prehistoric snakes in western India. The same region has also revealed fossils of aquatic snakes and other madtsoiid relatives, highlighting the richness of ancient reptilian life.
This discovery sheds light on snake evolution and the diversity of reptilian species that once inhabited the Indian subcontinent’s tropical ecosystems. Ongoing research aims to better understand the ecological roles these ancient reptiles played and the environmental conditions they adapted to millions of years ago.