FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Titanoboa cerrejonensis was the largest snake in the world and belongs to the boa family. This cold-blooded snake went extinct about 60 million years ago due to climate change. It was discovered in a coal mine of South America but is now placed at the Florida Museum of Natural history. Jonathan Bloch, a paleontologist at this museum said that the estimated Titanoboa size is about 43 ft (13.1 m). Janson head, a paleontologist at the University of Toronto described the snake as a giant animal that has to squeeze itself from the door of its office if it wants to eat him. A life-sized model of Titanoboa cerrejonensis is displayed in the Smithsonian museum.
The size of this long snake has provided important cues about the environment of the earth at the time of its existence. For instance, the snake is an ectothermic reptile, which means it must be lived in an environment where the temperature was about 90° F (32° C). This type of climate helped the animals of that time to attain a much bigger size than present-day snakes. There are many Titanoboa snake facts that you can learn about if you keep reading.
To know more about snakes, you may also check out these giant garter snake facts and python facts.
Titanoboa was giant snake species that became extinct some million years ago. This giant snake is similar to the modern-day anaconda.
The Titanoboa was one of the largest snakes that belong to the class Reptilia of Phylum Chordata.
As the Titanoboa is an extinct snake, there is no information available regarding the population size of this animal.
Titanoboa was a 43 ft (13.1 m) snake that lived in La Guajira of South America. This snake used to live with big Crocodylomorpha and large turtles. The paleogeography of the Paleocene epoch was a protected swamp area, shaded by the rising later La Guajira hills and the steadily emerging present-day Serranía del Perijá, with an open link to the proto-Caribbean. In the climate of this habitat, the tropical aquatic ferns flourished, as revealed by fossils of these ferns in Cerrejón, the Palermo Formation, and the Bogotá Formation. The Titanoboa probably went extinct due to climate change which dropped temperatures on the earth.
The fossils of plants that are found with the fossils of Titanoboa suggest the climate in which this snake lived was a tropical rainforest. Titanoboa was almost identical to the modern-day green anaconda that lives in the murky water of swamps, where it hides and waits for its prey to drink from the swamp. Though, it also ate aquatic animals. It seems that that the movement of Titanoboa was sluggish and it was not as quick on dry land, the same as the green anaconda. It was likely to hold its breath underwater for about an hour, which is an advantage for an aquatic trap hunter.
It is believed that Titanoboa snakes must live alone like present-day green anacondas. However, it shared its habitat with snapping turtle carboneyms whose fossils were discovered from the same area where the remains of Titanoboa were found. It is not unbelievable that these giant reptiles mixed it up sometimes, by chance or during the hunt.
Titanoboa, which was a boa constrictor-like snake, became extinct about 60 million years ago. Therefore, the lifespan of this large animal is unknown.
Due to their extinction, there is not much information available regarding the reproduction of Titanoboa snakes. Like other modern reptiles, Titanoboa had breeding seasons. Both male and female snakes used to live separately. During mating season, the female snake released a specific hormone to attract males. Males of this species would fight with each other to mate with the female snake. The winning male impregnates the female. It is believed that sometimes just after the male fertilizes the eggs of a female snake, she would attack the male. It was followed by a resting or gestation period, which was about seven months. After this period, Titanoboa snakes came out of a fine membrane on the sides of the body of their mother.
Titanoboas were giant, boa-constrictor-like snakes, named Titanoboa cerrejonensis that went extinct nearly 60 million years ago. The main cause behind the disappearance and extinction must be climate change. The dropping temperature of the earth favored the appearance of smaller snakes. With time, much larger reptiles were gradually erased, while other smaller reptiles took over their places on the planet. With the drop in temperature, the habitat change also contributed to the extinction of these titanic animals of the boa family. In the Paleocene epoch, rainforests were reduced to grasslands. Therefore, due to lack of proper habitat they disappeared.
Researchers compared the sizes and shapes of the fossilized vertebrae of the Titanoboa and estimated the total length to be 43 ft (13.1 m). Most fossils found are of adults, but some fossils of young are also found in the coal mine. These fossils consist of vertebrae and ribs. Scientists estimated that there are 250 vertebrae in a Titanoboa. Only one fossil with a skull has been recovered. It turns out that this monster snake had significantly thick skin. This cold-blooded snake also had excellent night vision. The color of the snake was dull brown to grayish and black. It lacked feet like other snakes.
They are not cute animals. In fact, they are giant, dangerous, and resemble modern-day anaconda animals.
The information about how Titanoboas communicate is not available.
The Titanoboa, also known as titanic boa, is a giant snake that is 43 ft (13.1 m) long, which is about 100 times bigger than a royal python.
Despite its enormous size, Titanoboa swimming was it's preferred way to move in the waters. Also, on land, this titanic snake could move at a speed of 50 mph (80.4 kph). It made Titanoboa an arduous animal to outrun. Apart from these, it could also climb trees.
The weight of a Titanoboa is 2,500 lb (1135 kg).
There are no specific names known for male and female Titanoboa snakes.
The baby Titanoboa has no specific names.
Scientists found fossils of crocodiles in the Cerrejón Formation alongside the Titanoboa. They also found large turtle fossils. These remains suggest that they are the food of Titanoboa. Additionally, it can also eat large fish. It can dislocate its jaws to help swallow food, such as mammals larger than its own head. Some scientists assume that it can also eat other snakes.
No, Titanoboa snakes are non-poisonous animals as they do not possess any poison-producing gland.
They are already extinct. Therefore, it is not possible to keep them as a pet.
The Titanoboa was the biggest snake on earth, dead or alive.
This giant monster was very much capable of swallowing a human, wholly.
There were no animals that could kill this giant monster due to their extreme size.
Scientists believe that the Titanoboa probably went extinct due to climate change. In other words, climate degradation killed Titanoboa.
After eating a large crocodile, it could go without eating anything for about one year.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these milk snake facts and kukri snake facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Titanoboa coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.