Speaking of giant reptiles, we most often imagine a boa constrictor or anaconda. Scientists have long assumed that in the prehistoric world there were larger animals of this class. These conjectures received scientific confirmation only in 2009 due to an unexpected archaeological find. And now we know for sure that the titanoboa snake is the largest that has ever existed on our planet.
Sensational archaeological find
In 2009, during excavations, fossils of a giant snake were discovered in the coal mines of Colombia. The remains were in fairly good condition and allowed a detailed study of an animal previously unknown to science. Specialists managed to collect and restore the complete skeleton of a snake.
The ancient reptile dates back to the Paleocene era. The giant snake received the name "Titanoboa" (Titanoboa cerrejonensis), which literally translates as "giant boa." Scientists suggest that these monsters appeared about 10 million years after the dinosaurs became extinct. It turns out that giant reptiles lived on the territory of modern Colombia about 60 million years ago.
What is the length of a giant snake?
Fossils found during archaeological excavations allow you to completely reconstruct the appearance and outstanding dimensions of the ancient monster. Scientists have found that the titanoboa snake reached a length of 15 meters. The thickness of the reptile's body exceeded the waist circumference of the average person. In its thickest place, the circumference of the body of a snake could reach 100 centimeters.
The direct descendants of titanoboa are modern boas. Presumably, the ancient monster also encircled and squeezed its prey in a fatal embrace. But during the meal, the extinct titanoboa snake was more like a modern anaconda. This reptile could swallow almost any animal and was on top of the food chain. According to experts, the weight of a well-dined titanoboa could exceed 1 ton.
Interesting Snake Champion Facts
Like its descendants, the titanoboa snake was not poisonous. Due to its size and developed muscles, this reptile easily cope with adult alligators.
The discovery of the fossilized remains of a giant snake gave reason to think about the climatic conditions in the habitats of the animal. Most scientists agree that the reptile felt great in a hot and humid tropical climate. Some experts, on the contrary, believe that the average annual temperature in the study area has risen several degrees over the past millions of years. According to their calculations, the giant snake generated too much metabolic heat during the digestion of food. At excessively high temperatures, the reptile would simply overheat.
Scientists agree only in one thing, that titanoboa is an extinct species of snakes that can hunt in water and on land. Despite its fantastic size, the reptile moved as swiftly as its modern descendants. And this means that the animal, chosen by the snake as prey, simply had no chance.
Titanoboa in art and popular culture
Legends of giant snakes are present in the cultural traditions of many countries of the world. Who knows, maybe our ancestors did sometimes meet with descendants of titanoboa that are larger than modern boas in size?
The skeleton of a giant ancient snake is exhibited at the New York Museum today, and anyone can see it with their own eyes. At the National Museum of Natural History (Washington), you can see a stunning sculpture. There, in the middle of the exhibition hall, a titanoboa snake made in its real scale swallows the alligator.
The National Geographic Society has created a detailed documentary telling about a giant reptile. Titanoboa appears in modern art as an ancient creepy monster. For example, this snake can be seen in the second series of the series “Portal of the Jurassic Period: New World”.
Are there giant snakes today?
More recently, the very existence of such a large snake was just a bold hypothesis. But what if animals like titanoboa still live in the least explored corners of our planet? Such an assumption is sometimes put forward even by authoritative researchers. However, to date it was not possible to confirm it.
Records in the world of creeping are still boa constrictor and anaconda. The descendants of the legendary titanoboa - modern pythons - usually have a length of up to 10 meters. Anaconda is considered the heaviest snake, the weight of an individual can reach 95 kilograms.
It’s not easy to imagine an ancient giant looking at modern snake photos. Titanoboa was longer than a standard passenger bus, and could easily swallow an adult.