Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal
Abstract Here we report the discovery of fossils representing partial vertebral column of a giant madtsoiid snake from an early Middle Eocene (Lutetian, ~ 47 Ma) lignite-bearing succession in Kutch, western India. The estimated body length of ~ 11–15 m makes this new taxon (Vasuki indicus gen et sp....
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Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58377-0 |
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| author | Debajit Datta Sunil Bajpai |
| author_facet | Debajit Datta Sunil Bajpai |
| author_sort | Debajit Datta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Here we report the discovery of fossils representing partial vertebral column of a giant madtsoiid snake from an early Middle Eocene (Lutetian, ~ 47 Ma) lignite-bearing succession in Kutch, western India. The estimated body length of ~ 11–15 m makes this new taxon (Vasuki indicus gen et sp. nov.) the largest known madtsoiid snake, which thrived during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at ~ 28 °C. Phylogenetically, Vasuki forms a distinct clade with the Indian Late Cretaceous taxon Madtsoia pisdurensis and the North African Late Eocene Gigantophis garstini. Biogeographic considerations, seen in conjunction with its inter-relationship with other Indian and North African madtsoiids, suggest that Vasuki represents a relic lineage that originated in India. Subsequent India-Asia collision at ~ 50 Ma led to intercontinental dispersal of this lineage from the subcontinent into North Africa through southern Eurasia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-83bdbea532bb4977b25ddbe117e2a178 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-83bdbea532bb4977b25ddbe117e2a1782025-08-20T02:13:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-04-0114111910.1038/s41598-024-58377-0Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersalDebajit Datta0Sunil Bajpai1Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology RoorkeeDepartment of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology RoorkeeAbstract Here we report the discovery of fossils representing partial vertebral column of a giant madtsoiid snake from an early Middle Eocene (Lutetian, ~ 47 Ma) lignite-bearing succession in Kutch, western India. The estimated body length of ~ 11–15 m makes this new taxon (Vasuki indicus gen et sp. nov.) the largest known madtsoiid snake, which thrived during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at ~ 28 °C. Phylogenetically, Vasuki forms a distinct clade with the Indian Late Cretaceous taxon Madtsoia pisdurensis and the North African Late Eocene Gigantophis garstini. Biogeographic considerations, seen in conjunction with its inter-relationship with other Indian and North African madtsoiids, suggest that Vasuki represents a relic lineage that originated in India. Subsequent India-Asia collision at ~ 50 Ma led to intercontinental dispersal of this lineage from the subcontinent into North Africa through southern Eurasia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58377-0 |
| spellingShingle | Debajit Datta Sunil Bajpai Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal Scientific Reports |
| title | Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal |
| title_full | Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal |
| title_fullStr | Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal |
| title_short | Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal |
| title_sort | largest known madtsoiid snake from warm eocene period of india suggests intercontinental gondwana dispersal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58377-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT debajitdatta largestknownmadtsoiidsnakefromwarmeoceneperiodofindiasuggestsintercontinentalgondwanadispersal AT sunilbajpai largestknownmadtsoiidsnakefromwarmeoceneperiodofindiasuggestsintercontinentalgondwanadispersal |