Scientists discover 13-meter snake fossil in Colombian coal mine
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Scientists have uncovered the fossil remains of a 13-meter snake in a Colombian coal mine, identifying it as the largest serpent ever recorded. The find surpasses all known snake species in size, shedding light on the prehistoric climate that allowed such gigantism.
The Discovery
The fossil was unearthed in the Cerrejón coal mine in northern Colombia. Paleontologists identified the remains as belonging to a previously unknown species of giant snake. The specimen measures 13 meters in length, making it the longest snake ever recorded. It lived approximately 60 million years ago during the Paleocene epoch.
Record Dimensions
The snake exceeds the size of the previous record holder, Gigantophis, by three meters. Its estimated weight is over 1 ton, and vertebrae over 10 centimeters wide indicate a massive body. The find confirms that snakes can reach far greater sizes than previously known from the fossil record.
Climate Implications
The existence of such a large cold-blooded predator suggests mean annual temperatures in the Paleocene tropics reached at least 30–34°C. This provides key evidence for paleoclimate models and the relationship between temperature and reptilian body size. Researchers say the discovery helps refine predictions of how modern ecosystems may respond to warming.
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