In social networks, a picture is common, on which the skeleton of a huge prehistoric reptile is supposedly represented. We checked the reliability of this photo.
The image was repeatedly published by popular publics on VKontakte with hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers: "5 interesting facts", "Book of Records", "This is interesting!", "Anatomy for doctors - medicine", "Such a biology" And many others. By photography with similar signatures, users were also shared Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networks.
The giant prehistoric snake really existed - in 2009 of its fossils discovered In Colombia, an international group of researchers. According to them, the reptile lived about 60 million years ago, reached 13 m in length (approximately twice as long as anaconda) and weighed more than a ton. The fossilized remains of 28 such snakes close to the family of boas (BOA) were found in the mine in the municipality of the Serrekhon, so the view was called Titanoboa Cerrejonensis.
The find quite quickly became popular outside the scientific community. In 2012, Smithsonian Channel released Titanoboa documentary: Monster Snake, dedicated to the largest snake in history. Then in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington appeared Reconstruction of Titanoboa.
However, the skeleton’s picture, regularly appearing on social networks under the guise of a Titanoboa skeleton, has nothing to do with the giant ancient reptile. The photo captures the sculpture Ressort, created In 2012, artist Juan Yong Pin. The work stored in the Kvingsland art gallery in Australia is made of aluminum and stainless steel. Ressort is part of a series of large sculptures depicting snakes and dragons - important symbols in the culture of China, where the artist comes from.
Not true
- Snopes. Is this a Titanoboa Monster Snake Skeleton?
- Queensland Art Gallery. Ressort
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