Appeared 5 million years after the K/T extinction
After the K/T Extinction, an event — possibly a large meteorite — that wiped out all of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, it took several million years for terrestrial life to recover on its own. Appearing in the Paleocene , Titanoboa was one of the first large reptiles to reclaim ecological niches left by dinosaurs and marine reptiles in the late Cretaceous . Paleocene mammals had not yet evolved to colossal sizes, which happened 20 million years later.
Looks like a Boa Constrictor but is hunted like a crocodile
You might assume from its name that the “titanic boa” hunted like a modern-day boa constrictor, swaddling its prey and squeezing until its victim suffocated. However, Titanoboa may have attacked its prey in a more dramatic fashion: slithering near its happy lunch unnoticed while half-submerged in the water and then, with a sudden leap, grabbing. giant jaws around the victim’s windpipe.
Replaced Gigantophis as the Largest Known Prehistoric Snake
For years, the 33-foot-long, thousand-pound colossal snake was hailed as the king of snakes. Its reputation was later overshadowed by the even larger titanoboa, which preceded it by 40 million years. Not that the gigantophis is any less dangerous than its larger predecessor; Paleontologists believe that this African snake made the regular meal of the distant elephant ancestor, moeritherium.
Twice as long as the longest snake
Titanoboa was only twice as long and four times heavier than today’s giant anacondas, the largest of which measured 25 feet from head to tail and weighed 500 pounds. However, compared to most modern snakes, titanoboa was a veritable giant snake. The average cobra or rattlesnake weighs about 10 pounds and can easily fit into a small suitcase. It is believed that titanoboa is not poisonous, like these smaller reptiles.
3 feet in diameter at the thickest
With a snake as long and heavy as the titanoboa, the laws of physics and biology do not afford to place the weight evenly along the length of its body. Titanoboa toward the middle of the trunk is thicker than at the ends, reaching a maximum diameter of 3 feet.
Habitat with the Giant Tortoise Carbonemys
Remnants of one-ton sea turtles have been discovered in the same vicinity as the titanoboa fossil. Unexpectedly, these giant reptiles would mix with it from time to time, either by chance or when they were particularly hungry.
Living in a hot and humid climate
South America recovered fairly quickly from the drop in global temperatures following the K/T Extinction Event, when a massive meteor is thought to have hit the Yucatan, creating dust clouds that obscured the sun and caused species to Dinosaurs became extinct. During the Paleocene, present-day Peru and Colombia had a tropical climate, and cold-blooded reptiles like titanoboa tended to grow much larger in the mid-90s temperatures and high humidity.
Probably the color of algae
Unlike some contemporaneous venomous snakes, titanoboa will not benefit from splashes of vibrant color. The giant snake hunts by stalking its prey. Most of the large reptiles in titanoboa habitats are algae colored and hard to see against the landscape, making it easier to find supper.
Life-size model once displayed at Grand Central Station
In March 2012, the Smithsonian Institution installed a 48-foot model of titanoboa at New York’s Grand Central Terminal during evening rush hour. A museum spokesman told the Huffington Post that the exhibit is meant to “scare people” – and call their attention to an upcoming Smithsonian TV special, “Titanoboa: Monster Snake. “