Facts From Fossils

Slithering residents of the prehistoric landscape were no different from modern day reptiles as they go about their daily routine. Remember old Repenomanus giganticus the largest snake in the grass, even when there was no grass? The big hiss was very partial to eggs and dinosaurs that would fit in his gaping mouth. He was found with the remains of baby dinosaurs preserved inside him. India has given us a smaller version of reptile (eleven feet in length) named Sanajeh (“ancient gaped one”) who was caught dead to rights robbing the nest of a sauropod probably trying to get a midnight snack and paid the ultimate price. The fossilized remains of the snake was coiled around a crushed egg, with more eggs and the partial skeleton a baby herbivore next to it. With dinosaurs depositing 12 or more eggs in a nest these boa-like creatures probably had a heyday as the eggs were hatching. Did hatching “chicks” make enough commotion to bring the predators to them Sanajeh, unlike Repenomanus, had a head structure that kept his jaws from opening a huge gape, so scientists think that the smaller reptiles had to crush the egg in its coils and then slurp up the egg’s contents. The eggs and newborns were the main dish but as they grew they were not as vulnerable.

According to a CBS News story, reptiles as early as 100 million years ago were developing mobile jaws similar to those of today’s large-mouthed snakes, includingvipers and boas. Dhananjay Mohabey of India’s Geological Survey discovered Sanajeh in 1987 and paleontologist Jeff Wilson of the University of Michigan was the person who identified the snake bones amid the crushed dinosaur eggs and the bones of hatchlings.

Bob’s Blog always has some interesting thoughts and in his one on “Did living in Trees Help Save Early Mammals? He said that a research team found that smalltree dwelling mammals live longer than their comparably sized relatives on the ground. He continues, it’s not just that arboreal furballs are exposed to less danger (hungry dogs, curious kids, unattended lawnmowers, etc.); it’s that they’re programmed genetically to live longer. I have something to think about! Did prehistoric snakes cruise the trees like modern reptiles or did the giant ones stay earth-bound because no plant could hold their weight and did the snakes in trees make a living by eating furballs?

***

Bone Biddies: “Stuart, did you hear about the 5,000 foot dinosaur?”

Stuart: “Ladies, don’t try to fool me. I know that dinosaurs only had 4 feet!”

This is part of the March 4, 2010 online edition of The Glenrock Independent.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.