38‑million-year-old snake fossil reveals secrets of hibernation

Scientists from the University of Alberta have discovered a fossil of four intertwined snakes in the western part of the United States. The most remarkable aspect of the find is its age, which is estimated to be 38 million years old. Despite this, the snake remains have been preserved in very good condition.

The world still harbours many undiscovered mysteries, and evidence is not hard to find. Researchers continuously report new discoveries, such as traces of cultures that existed before modern humans and fossils of various extinct animals. One such sensational discovery in the scientific world is the recent find in the American state of Wyoming.

In this location, scientists from the University of Alberta have found a specific snake fossil in rocks from the Oligocene epoch (Cenozoic era). The remains include four specimens – intertwined and preserved in surprisingly good condition. This is excellent news for scholars, as it allows them to examine what they have found closely.

From current findings, the identified specimens may be ancestors of today's known boa and python snakes. What captured the discoverers' attention most is how the fossil is arranged. The reptiles are coiled into a ball, the first known instance of this arrangement in discovery history.

Researchers identified the species of fossilised snakes as Hibernophis breithaupti. The first part of this name is somewhat derived from the positioning of the snakes. According to scientists, the specific intertwining is not a coincidence – it is precisely this form in which the snakes would hibernate.

As noted on the University of Alberta's website, the excellent condition of the remains is most likely because the snakes died during hibernation. Scholars suspect, therefore, that the reptiles perished suddenly. They had no chance to make any movement before dying. Their suspicions point towards a volcanic eruption, which could have resulted in large amounts of ash and avalanches. These dangers might have covered the hibernating snakes and caused their immediate death.

The hibernation of Hibernophis breithaupti also shows an interesting trait of these snakes from 38 million years ago. It is rare in the animal kingdom for creatures to hibernate in such a "tight" group. The ancestors of today's boa and python snakes were also significantly smaller than contemporary reptiles. Scientists reached this conclusion during the preliminary examination of the Wyoming find.