Latest news with #Titanoboa
South Wales Argus
23-07-2025
- Science
- South Wales Argus
What is the world's oldest snake? Jurassic reptile found in UK
There are three snake species native to the UK - the adder, grass snake and smooth snake. But the UK is also thought to be the home of the world's oldest snake, which dates back 167 million years to the Jurassic period. Native wild animals in the UK What is the oldest snake in the world? The oldest snake in the world is the Eophis underwoodi, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Fossil remains of the snake, primarily jaw fragments, were found in the Forest Marble Formation at Kirtlington Quarry in Oxfordshire. Eophis underwoodi dates back around 167 million years to the Bathonian Age during the Middle Jurassic era. BBC Wildlife Magazine said: "Prior to 2015, the oldest known fossil snakes were ~100 million years old. "The discovery of Eophis extended the known geological range of snakes by more than 60 million years and suggested they may have originated at a similar time to most other major groups of scaly reptiles." The snake is believed to have been alive around the same time as the Megalosaurus - a 6-metre long, meat-eating dinosaur, which also called a similar part of southern England home. BBC Wildlife Magazine added that the Eophis was "far from a giant", only measuring around 25cm. This is a far cry from the Titanoboa, which is the largest snake ever, at around 13m in length (which dates back to around 60 million years ago). The Eophis underwoodi was much smaller than the Titanoboa (pictured), which is the largest snake ever. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The BBC experts continued: "Eophis is thought to have lived in swamps, hunting tiny fish, insects, and tadpoles. "It's also believed it had tiny hind limbs, like many other ancient snakes." RECOMMENDED READING: How long do the UK's native snakes live for? The three snakes that can currently be found in the UK have a lifespan ranging from 15 to 25 years, according to The Wildlife Trusts. The adder has an average lifespan of up to 15 years, while the smooth snake can live for around 20 years. The grass snake has the longest average lifespan of the UK's native species, as it can live for up to 25 years.
North Wales Chronicle
22-07-2025
- Science
- North Wales Chronicle
What is the world's oldest snake? Jurassic reptile found in UK
There are three snake species native to the UK - the adder, grass snake and smooth snake. But the UK is also thought to be the home of the world's oldest snake, which dates back 167 million years to the Jurassic period. The oldest snake in the world is the Eophis underwoodi, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Fossil remains of the snake, primarily jaw fragments, were found in the Forest Marble Formation at Kirtlington Quarry in Oxfordshire. Eophis underwoodi dates back around 167 million years to the Bathonian Age during the Middle Jurassic era. BBC Wildlife Magazine said: "Prior to 2015, the oldest known fossil snakes were ~100 million years old. "The discovery of Eophis extended the known geological range of snakes by more than 60 million years and suggested they may have originated at a similar time to most other major groups of scaly reptiles." The snake is believed to have been alive around the same time as the Megalosaurus - a 6-metre long, meat-eating dinosaur, which also called a similar part of southern England home. BBC Wildlife Magazine added that the Eophis was "far from a giant", only measuring around 25cm. This is a far cry from the Titanoboa, which is the largest snake ever, at around 13m in length (which dates back to around 60 million years ago). The Eophis underwoodi was much smaller than the Titanoboa (pictured), which is the largest snake ever. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The BBC experts continued: "Eophis is thought to have lived in swamps, hunting tiny fish, insects, and tadpoles. "It's also believed it had tiny hind limbs, like many other ancient snakes." RECOMMENDED READING: Where to find snakes in the UK including the venomous Adder and rare Smooth Snake The 'adaptable' snake that is the UK's longest and can swim underwater Snake warning issued to UK residents as RSPCA braces for 'influx' of sightings The UK's only venomous snake that is described as 'very shy' but 'dangerous' The three snakes that can currently be found in the UK have a lifespan ranging from 15 to 25 years, according to The Wildlife Trusts. The adder has an average lifespan of up to 15 years, while the smooth snake can live for around 20 years. The grass snake has the longest average lifespan of the UK's native species, as it can live for up to 25 years.
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
What is the world's oldest snake? Jurassic reptile found in UK
But the UK is also thought to be the home of the world's oldest snake, which dates back 167 million years to the Jurassic period. Native wild animals in the UK What is the oldest snake in the world? The oldest snake in the world is the Eophis underwoodi, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Fossil remains of the snake, primarily jaw fragments, were found in the Forest Marble Formation at Kirtlington Quarry in Oxfordshire. Eophis underwoodi dates back around 167 million years to the Bathonian Age during the Middle Jurassic era. BBC Wildlife Magazine said: "Prior to 2015, the oldest known fossil snakes were ~100 million years old. "The discovery of Eophis extended the known geological range of snakes by more than 60 million years and suggested they may have originated at a similar time to most other major groups of scaly reptiles." The snake is believed to have been alive around the same time as the Megalosaurus - a 6-metre long, meat-eating dinosaur, which also called a similar part of southern England home. BBC Wildlife Magazine added that the Eophis was "far from a giant", only measuring around 25cm. This is a far cry from the Titanoboa, which is the largest snake ever, at around 13m in length (which dates back to around 60 million years ago). The Eophis underwoodi was much smaller than the Titanoboa (pictured), which is the largest snake ever. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The BBC experts continued: "Eophis is thought to have lived in swamps, hunting tiny fish, insects, and tadpoles. "It's also believed it had tiny hind limbs, like many other ancient snakes." RECOMMENDED READING: How long do the UK's native snakes live for? The three snakes that can currently be found in the UK have a lifespan ranging from 15 to 25 years, according to The Wildlife Trusts. The adder has an average lifespan of up to 15 years, while the smooth snake can live for around 20 years. The grass snake has the longest average lifespan of the UK's native species, as it can live for up to 25 years.
Glasgow Times
22-07-2025
- Science
- Glasgow Times
What is the world's oldest snake? Jurassic reptile found in UK
There are three snake species native to the UK - the adder, grass snake and smooth snake. But the UK is also thought to be the home of the world's oldest snake, which dates back 167 million years to the Jurassic period. Native wild animals in the UK What is the oldest snake in the world? The oldest snake in the world is the Eophis underwoodi, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Fossil remains of the snake, primarily jaw fragments, were found in the Forest Marble Formation at Kirtlington Quarry in Oxfordshire. Eophis underwoodi dates back around 167 million years to the Bathonian Age during the Middle Jurassic era. BBC Wildlife Magazine said: "Prior to 2015, the oldest known fossil snakes were ~100 million years old. "The discovery of Eophis extended the known geological range of snakes by more than 60 million years and suggested they may have originated at a similar time to most other major groups of scaly reptiles." The snake is believed to have been alive around the same time as the Megalosaurus - a 6-metre long, meat-eating dinosaur, which also called a similar part of southern England home. BBC Wildlife Magazine added that the Eophis was "far from a giant", only measuring around 25cm. This is a far cry from the Titanoboa, which is the largest snake ever, at around 13m in length (which dates back to around 60 million years ago). The Eophis underwoodi was much smaller than the Titanoboa (pictured), which is the largest snake ever. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The BBC experts continued: "Eophis is thought to have lived in swamps, hunting tiny fish, insects, and tadpoles. "It's also believed it had tiny hind limbs, like many other ancient snakes." RECOMMENDED READING: How long do the UK's native snakes live for? The three snakes that can currently be found in the UK have a lifespan ranging from 15 to 25 years, according to The Wildlife Trusts. The adder has an average lifespan of up to 15 years, while the smooth snake can live for around 20 years. The grass snake has the longest average lifespan of the UK's native species, as it can live for up to 25 years.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Vasuki Indicus: All About The Longest Snake To Have Ever Lived
The fossil of an ancient serpent, Vasuki Indicus, found along the Kutch coast in the Indian state of Gujarat two decades ago, has offered some never-before-known insights into the evolution of the reptile. Dating back around 47 million years, the giant snake is believed to have been an incredible 49 feet long, surpassing the enormous Titanoboa. The giant Titanoboa from Palaeocene Colombia can grow up to 42 feet in length, and was the indisputable longest snake to have ever walked the earth for decades. Titanoboa is believed to weigh 1.25 tonnes, which is slightly heavier than Vasuki Indicus, which weighs about 1,000 kg. The ancient remains of Vasuki Indicus were initially discovered in 2005 at the Panandhro Lignite Mine in the Kutch district. They were painstakingly examined and identified over many years. Researchers found 27 vertebrae that were largely in good condition. The bones were so large that they were initially believed to be those of a gigantic crocodile, demonstrating the remarkable size of this ancient serpent. Researchers concluded that Vasuki Indicus had a broad, cylindrical body, like big pythons or anacondas of modern age, based on the size of its vertebrae - 38-62 millimetres long and 62-111 millimetres wide. Vasuki Indicus is thought to have existed during the Middle Eocene, when the Earth's temperature was good enough to permit the evolution of large, cold-blooded reptiles. Despite the lack of a full skeleton, scientific examination of Vasuki Indicus' vertebrae has produced amazing reconstructions and insights into its existence. Palaeontologists Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai of the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee contended that Vasuki Indicus was probably a slow-moving predator that wrapped its body around its victim till it died. They estimated that it originated in the warm Indian subcontinent and travelled via Europe to Africa between 56 and 34 million years ago. Vasuki Indicus thrived in the now-arid Kutch region's wooded marshes, per The name of the species reveals an intriguing link between contemporary scientific research and ancient Indian mythology. Vasuki Indicus alludes to the treasured mythical serpent known as Vasuki Naag, which is often portrayed as a celestial adornment around Lord Shiva's neck in Hindu scriptures.
