Vasuki Indicus: Gujarat Unearths Fossil of Largest Snake to Have Ever Existed

A fossil vertebrae unearthed in Gujarat has been named after Vasuki, the snake king associated with Lord Shiva. Scientists have confirmed that it belongs to the largest snake ever to have lived, surpassing the T-rex in length.

The discovery of ‘Vasuki Indicus’ was made by scientists from IIT-Roorkee in 2005 and recently confirmed as a giant snake. This find establishes India’s important role in the origin and evolutionary process of various species, especially reptiles.

The researchers discovered 27 vertebrae from the snake, with some resembling a large python and suggesting it would not have been venomous. They estimate the snake’s length to be in the range of 11-15 metres (about 50 feet) and its weight at 1 tonne.

They believe Vasuki was a slow-moving ambush predator that would subdue prey through constriction, similar to anacondas and pythons. Vasuki’s size rivals that of Titanoboa, which lived in Colombia around 60 million years ago.

The estimated body length of Vasuki is comparable to that of Titanoboa, although the vertebrae of Titanoboa are slightly larger. However, whether Vasuki was more massive or slender compared to Titanoboa remains unclear.

The largest living snake today is Asia’s reticulated python at 10 metres (33 feet). It is noted that the area where the fossil was found, currently dry and dusty, was once a swamp when Vasuki roamed the Earth.

This discovery not only provides insight into the evolution of snakes but also enhances understanding of how continents physically shifted over time and species dispersed across the globe.