Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Dino-Eating Snake Makes Hiss-tory

Serpent preyed on titanosaur babies

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 3, 2010 5:06 AM CST | Updated Mar 3, 2010 6:00 AM CST

(Newser) – Hundred-ton dinosaurs may have been just as scared of snakes as humans are. The recent discovery of a fossilized snake wrapped around a baby titanosaur offers the first-ever direct evidence that prehistoric snakes fed on dinosaur hatchlings. Researchers believe the snake was attacking a baby dinosaur as it hatched; a natural disaster then overcame them, freezing the scene for perpetuity.

"It was such a thrill to discover such a portentous moment frozen in time," said the scientist who found the fossil in India. The snake and its prey were found among a fossilized dinosaur nest containing three other eggs. The dinosaur-eating snake would have been one of very few predators that preyed on giant dinosaurs like the plant-eating titanosaur.

A snake moves in for the kill against a titanosaur hatchling in this reconstruction.
A snake moves in for the kill against a titanosaur hatchling in this reconstruction.   (India Geological Society)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
5%
77%
0%
8%
6%
4%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
RustytheZippergirl
Mar 4, 2010 2:41 AM CST
Run Barney Run!
Spudsy
Mar 3, 2010 8:34 PM CST
The nerd in me Googled titanosaur. Dig this, Bruhathkayosaurus was a titanosaur and was as long as 130 ft. That is basically a 13 story building walking at you! 220 tons. Lotta dino meat right there.
budee
Mar 3, 2010 2:59 PM CST
(67-Million-Year-Old Fossil Snake Found Eating Baby Dinosaurs)
67 million years ago? In your dreams. Fantasy personified. On an equal with Al Gores Global warming.

More Newser Stories

Scientists Replicate Prehistoric Cricket Sound

Whale Graveyard Puzzles Experts

Artist's Studio From 100000 BC Unearthed

T-Rex Was More Massive Than We Thought

Prehistoric Kids Went to Art Class


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne