TITANOBOA
Following the demise of the dinosaurs, Titanoboa rose up through the ranks to claim the title of top predator during the Paleocene, about 60 million years ago. This monster snake could reach up to 13 metres long, that’s at least 30% longer than even todays longest species. Titanoboa quite literally means “titan boa”, along with its incredible size, its estimated to have weighed up to 2500 pounds and its 13 metre long body would have reached up to a metre off the ground.
Titanoboa is perhaps one of the most incredible predators ever discovered, initially being revealed in a Columbian coal pit amongst the rubble. In this fossil wonderland many reptile species found, including vertebrae of a seemingly ginormous snake. These huge bones were not even the most important find, a skull was also uncovered. The finding of a snake skull, especially one of this size was staggering. Snake skulls are not fused like humans are, they are connected with tissue which decomposes over time and the skull bones get scattered. This not only makes Titanoboa the largest snake ever found, but also a rarity among the snake fossil record.
The discovery of Titanoboa provided valuable evidence in deciphering the Paleocene climate. Snakes are ectothermic, meaning they regulate their body temperature by exchanging heat with the surroundings. For Titanoboa to reach such an immense size, suggests that the Earth’s climate was a lot warmer than it is today. How Titanoboa hunted is a matter of speculation, some scientists suggest that it hunted like a modern day boa constrictor, by wrapping around prey so tight the unfortunate animal suffocated. Yet many believe that its form of hunting was more tactical, submerging itself in the water and waiting until some got too close, where it would then lurch forward and snap its jaws around the animals windpipe. Whatever the reality, the cause of death was likely to be by suffocation.
(Titanoboa vertebrae compared to modern day snake)
The fact that Titanoboa was able to reach such a large such due to climatic factors, has lead to ideas that as our planets temperature continues to rise, this infamous snake could make a return. Whilst there certainly is a possibility that snakes would be able to grow in size in a warmer world, this process takes millions of years. If Titanoboa was to make a return, it will be a long while yet before this Titan becomes a threat…
