Gigantophis: Difference between revisions
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== Size == |
== Size == |
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Jason Head, of the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in [[Washington, DC]], has compared [[fossil]] ''Gigantophis'' vertebrae to those of the largest modern snakes, and concluded that the extinct snake could grow from {{convert|9.3|to|10.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} in length. If {{convert|10.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}, it would have been more than 10% longer than its largest living relatives.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Head |first=J. |last2=Polly |first2=D. |year=2004 |title=They might be giants: morphometric methods for reconstructing body size in the world’s largest snakes |journal=[[Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology]] |volume=24 |issue=Supp. 3 |pages=68A–69A |doi=10.1080/02724634.2004.10010643 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A giant among snakes |work=[[New Scientist]] |issue=2473 |date=10 November 2004 |page=17 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18424732-500-a-giant-among-snakes/ }}</ref> This species was once thought to be the largest species of snake in Earth's history, but was later replaced by ''[[Titanoboa]]'' |
Jason Head, of the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in [[Washington, DC]], has compared [[fossil]] ''Gigantophis'' vertebrae to those of the largest modern snakes, and concluded that the extinct snake could grow from {{convert|9.3|to|10.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} in length. If {{convert|10.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}, it would have been more than 10% longer than its largest living relatives.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Head |first=J. |last2=Polly |first2=D. |year=2004 |title=They might be giants: morphometric methods for reconstructing body size in the world’s largest snakes |journal=[[Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology]] |volume=24 |issue=Supp. 3 |pages=68A–69A |doi=10.1080/02724634.2004.10010643 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A giant among snakes |work=[[New Scientist]] |issue=2473 |date=10 November 2004 |page=17 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18424732-500-a-giant-among-snakes/ }}</ref> This species was once thought to be the largest species of snake in Earth's history, but was later replaced by ''[[Titanoboa]]''. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 20:51, 18 August 2017
| Gigantophis Temporal range: Late Eocene,
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | †Madtsoiidae |
| Genus: | †Gigantophis |
| Species: | †G. garstini[1]
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| Binomial name | |
| †Gigantophis garstini[1] C. W. Andrews, 1901[2]
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Gigantophis garstini is an extinct giant snake which may have measured more than 10 m (32.8 ft),[3] larger than any living species of snake. Before the Paleocene constrictor genus Titanoboa was described from Colombia in 2009, Gigantophis was regarded as the largest snake ever. Gigantophis lived about 40 million years ago in the northern Sahara, where Egypt[3] and Algeria are now located.
Discovery
The species is known only from a small number of fossils, mostly vertebrae.
Its discovery was published in 1901 by paleontologist Charles William Andrews, who described it, estimated its length to be about 30 feet, and named it "garstini" in honor of Sir William Garstin, KCMG, the Under Secretary of State for Public Works in Egypt.[4]
Taxonomy
Gigantophis is classified as a member of the extinct family Madtsoiidae.
Size
Jason Head, of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, has compared fossil Gigantophis vertebrae to those of the largest modern snakes, and concluded that the extinct snake could grow from 9.3 to 10.7 m (30.5 to 35.1 ft) in length. If 10.7 m (35.1 ft), it would have been more than 10% longer than its largest living relatives.[5][6] This species was once thought to be the largest species of snake in Earth's history, but was later replaced by Titanoboa.
References
- ^ "Gigantophis". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
- ^ "Gigantophis garstini". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ a b Dunham, Will (2009-02-04). "Titanic ancient snake was as long as Tyrannosaurus". Reuters UK. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ Andrews, C.W. 1901. II.—Preliminary Note on some Recently Discovered Extinct Vertebrates from Egypt. (Part II.) "Geological Magazine" 8 (10), pp. 436–444.
- ^ Head, J.; Polly, D. (2004). "They might be giants: morphometric methods for reconstructing body size in the world's largest snakes". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (Supp. 3): 68A – 69A. doi:10.1080/02724634.2004.10010643.
- ^ "A giant among snakes". New Scientist. No. 2473. 10 November 2004. p. 17.
Fossil snakes | |
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| Genera with hindlimbs and a sacrum | |
| Simoliophiidae | |
| Madtsoiidae | |
| Dinilysiidae | |
| Boidae | |
| Pythonidae | |
| Palaeophiidae | |
| Viperidae | |
| Elapidae | |
| Psammophiidae | |
 | This article about a prehistoric snake is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |