In Depth 2010 saw the description of a new genus of madtsoiid snake called Menarana. Although initially described from Madagascan fossils, the team describing the new genus also stated that a Spanish species of the Madtsoiidae type genus Madtsoia actually represented a second species. This led to the creation of the Menarana type species Menarana … Read more
Yurlunggur: Research Database Booidea (Snake) · Oligocene-Miocene (~28–11 MYA) · Australia (Riversleigh, Queensland) Research Note: Yurlunggur was a large pythonoid snake from the Oligocene-Miocene of Australia, one of the oldest known large snakes in the boa-python lineage. Its name comes from the mythology of the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land. At an estimated length … Read more
Sanajeh: Research Database Madtsoiidae (Serpentes) · Late Cretaceous (~67 MYA) · Asia — India (Meghalaya) Research Note: Sanajeh was a madtsoiid snake from the Late Cretaceous of India — one of the earliest known snakes and an important taxon for understanding the evolution of snakes in the Cretaceous of Gondwana. Research Finding Status … Read more
In Depth At five to six meters long, Wonambi would have been able to tackle any small to medium sized animal it chose. The Aboriginal people living in Australia at the same time as Wonambi were certainly aware of the presence of large snakes and indeed warned their children about going to watering holes alone. … Read more