Gigantophis

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Gigantophis
Temporal range:
Ma
↓
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: †Madtsoiidae
Genus: †Gigantophis
Species:
†G. garstini[1]
Binomial name
†Gigantophis garstini[1]

Gigantophis is an extinct genus represented by its sole member Gigantophis garstini, a giant

Paratethys Sea, within the northern Sahara, where Egypt[4] and Algeria
are now located.

Description

Size

A diagram showing the estimated lengths of Gigantophis garstini compared to other large snakes.

Jason Head, of the

Washington, DC, has compared fossil Gigantophis garstini 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]

Later estimates, based on

articular processes of tail vertebrae referred to Gigantophis garstini, revised the length of Gigantophis garstini to 6.9 ± 0.3 metres (22.64 ± 0.98 ft).[3]

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.[7] In 2013, vertebrae collected in Pakistan were found to be similar to Gigantophis vertebrae collected in Egypt, but their exact affinities are uncertain.[8]

Classification

Gigantophis garstini is classified as a member of the extinct family Madtsoiidae.

References

  1. ^ "Gigantophis". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  2. ^ "Gigantophis garstini". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  3. ^
    S2CID 90335531
    .
  4. ^ Dunham, Will (2009-02-04). "Titanic ancient snake was as long as Tyrannosaurus". Reuters UK. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  5. S2CID 220415208
    .
  6. ^ "A giant among snakes". New Scientist. No. 2473. 10 November 2004. p. 17.
  7. S2CID 86545487
    .
  8. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2014.03.004
    .


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