Fossil discovery in Gujarat identifies giant snake from Eocene era

Key facts

• Fossil evidence discovered in Gujarat has attracted scientific notice due to evidence of a snake of extraordinary size that existed during what is loosely defined as the Eocene era, some 47 million years ago.
• The species was identified as a related member of the extinct madtsoiid species, the clade of species recognised for having evolved the largest species of snake throughout history.
• The fossils of the collected Gujarat species are dominated by well-preserved vertebrae in sedimentary deposits from the early Eocene period.
• Described in the study published in Scientific Reports, the species has outstanding vertebral features compared with similar species of the madtsoiid genus.
• The Eocene was a time when the planet saw hot conditions year-round, and the polar regions were mostly devoid of ice.
• Analysis of the geological and palaeobotanical data available for Gujarat has revealed a landscape dominated by rivers, deltas, and dense forests.
• Madtsoiids have been found on various southern continents: Africa, South America, and Australia; these continents all comprised the supercontinent Gondwana.