Disclaimer: Copyright infringement is not intended.

Context:

• Paleontologists in India discovered fossilized remains of a giant predator snake in Gujarat's Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch.

Vasuki indicus and its characteristics

• They were terrestrial snakes that existed from the Upper Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene.
• It belonged to the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family, which lived between the Upper Cretaceous and the Late Pleistocene.
• The snake is estimated to be 10-15 meters long and dates back approximately 47 million years.
• Vasuki indicus had a broad, cylindrical body.
• It reached lengths between 10.9 and 15.2 meters, surpassing modern snakes like the reticulated python.
• It rivalled the size of the infamous Titanoboa, one of the largest known predators in history.

Significance of Madtsoiidae:

• They are significant for understanding snake origins and evolution.
• The discovery has implications for understanding Gondwanan inter-continental dispersal and the evolution of large body sizes during the Middle Eocene period.

Biogeography:

• Biogeography studies the geographical distribution of plants and animals. Many factors affect the geographical distribution of living organisms. These factors help shape the biogeography of a region. Climate and weather have a big impact on the geographical distribution of living things.
• Among the top 17 megadiverse countries in the world, India ranks fourth in Asia and tenth globally.
• There are ten biogeographic zones in India.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/brahmos-missiles-philippines-development-9280055/

Download PDF