Snakes are older than dinosaurs on EarthThe snake saved itself by sometimes spreading itself across the world and sometimes by going undergroundThe ability to survive for very long periods without eating
Snakes have been on Earth since the time when there were no dinosaurs. Then came the dinosaurs. There was a great upheaval on Earth. Big meteors fell. Asteroids collided. Climates changed. Dinosaurs could not withstand all this and were extinct. Their very existence was wiped off the Earth. In such a situation, if anyone did not get extinct, it was these snakes. They adapted themselves to every situation. They brought such changes in themselves that they are still present on Earth. They are growing. It is expected that they will remain for thousands and millions of years in the future as well.
What happened that snakes faced every challenge. They survived in every difficulty. Even big disasters could not harm them. Were they more smart or more lucky. What happened to them that they have been living on earth for millions of years.
Scientists believe that about 66 million years ago, such big changes were taking place on the earth that the giant dinosaurs became extinct. What was it that kept the snakes alive?
burrowing habit
Snakes have the ability to dig burrows inside the ground. When the weather changes a lot on the earth or asteroids hit, the conditions become very harsh. Dinosaurs were wiped out in this. But then snakes saved their lives by burrowing deep inside the ground. This also saved them from excessive temperature.
When even giant animals like dinosaurs were vanishing from the earth, snakes took refuge under the earth and remained safe. (image generated by Meta)
can live for a long time without eating
Snakes can survive for a long time without eating. In such a long time, there must have been many occasions when they did not get food for a long time, but this habit of theirs saved them. This ability to survive on minimal resources helped them to endure very difficult conditions, while many of their fellow species got destroyed due to lack of food or not being able to withstand the environment.
Some species of snakes can survive for up to two years without eating. Interestingly, some snakes can continue to grow in length even without eating, which shows that they are very smart in using their internal bodies.
adjusting to new places
When dinosaurs and many other species became extinct due to difficult conditions, snakes adapted well to whatever conditions were there. However, due to the extinction of large species, they faced less difficulty in finding food. Earlier there was not much variety in their diet, but now they can eat everything from birds to insects and small animals.
Snakes can live for a very long time without eating. When they do not get food for a long time, the protein inside their body breaks down and starts providing them nutrition. (image generated by Meta)
survived by developing new species
Snakes changed rapidly after the mass extinction. The few lineages that survived quickly evolved a huge range of new species, including vipers, boas and pythons. This meant that some species were lost, but many survived.
spread around the world
The study suggests that snakes began to spread around the world around the time of the dinosaur extinction. Earlier their ancestors probably lived only in the Southern Hemisphere, spreading into Asia for the first time after the dinosaur extinction event.
Adapting to climate change
Snakes also adapted to major climate changes, meaning they lived in periods of extreme heat and even when the Earth was covered in ice.
A study published in Science shows that snakes evolved about three times faster than other reptiles such as lizards. (iImage generated by Meta)
A study published in Science shows that snakes evolved about three times faster than other reptiles such as lizards. Led by the University of Michigan and involving more than 1,018 snake and lizard species, the research shows that snakes underwent major changes around 100-150 million years ago, which made them capable of living in every environment.
How are snakes older than dinosaurs?
The oldest known snake fossils are more than 167 million years old while dinosaurs first appeared around 230 million years ago.
The oldest known snake fossils discovered in England, Portugal and Colorado are 70 million years older than the oldest previously known snake fossils.
The location of the fossils suggests that early snakes lived in marine environments and were able to swim between islands, similar to some modern snakes.
Of course, dinosaurs ruled the land for millions of years. But they could not become as smart as snakes.
Those creatures which are older than snakes on earth
1. Ctenophores (comb jellies) – Ctenophore jellyfish have been around for over 700 million years. They predate both snakes and dinosaurs.
2. Worms – Worms, especially annelids, have a history dating back about 500 million years.
3. Vertebrates – Vertebrates, including fish, first appeared about 450 million years ago.
4. Sponges – Sponges are among the oldest organisms on Earth. Their fossil record is about 600 million years old. They are simple multicellular organisms.
Tags: Cobra snake, Sand Boa Snake, Snake Rescue, Snake Venom
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 16, 2024, 20:38 IST
