According to the study published in the journal Scientific Reports, 27 vertebrae belonging to a snake were found in a lignite coal mine in the western state of Gujarat.
Scientists reported that the vertebrae belonged to a snake species they named "Vasuki indicus", referring to the "snake king" in Indian mythology, and estimated to be 11 to 15 meters long.
The snake, which is thought to have lived in India about 47 million years ago when temperatures were higher and temperatures were higher, resembled a large python and was not poisonous, the researchers said, adding that they estimated the weight of "Vasuki indicus" could reach 1 ton.
In order to determine the estimated size of the snake, the researchers compared the vertebral remains of "Vasuki indicus", discovered in 2005, with living snake skeletons.
THE LARGEST LIVING SNAKE
Debajit Datta, one of the researchers, said that given its size, "Vasuki indicus" was a slow-moving predator that ambushed and captured its prey.
Datta noted that the remains of catfish, turtles, crocodiles and primitive whales found around the giant snake fossil show that "Vasuki indicus" lived in swampy areas and may have hunted these animals.
The reticulated python of Asia is known as "the largest snake alive today" with a length of 10 meters.
