A remarkably well-preserved vertebra discovered in Taiwan reveals that pythons, reaching lengths of nearly four meters, inhabited the island during the Middle Pleistocene epoch, between 800,000 and 400,000 years ago. This marks the first confirmed fossil evidence of pythons on Taiwan’s main island, a surprising find given that no living members of the Python genus currently reside there.
The fossil, a trunk vertebra, was unearthed near Tainan City, Taiwan, within the Chiting Formation. This geological unit is known for its rich fossil record, having previously yielded remains of saber-toothed cats, large crocodilians, and megaherbivores like mammoths and extinct rhinoceroses. The discovery, detailed in a paper published in the journal Historical Biology on , paints a picture of a vastly different ecosystem than the one found in Taiwan today.
Researchers from National Taiwan University, led by Yi-Lu Liaw, identified the specimen as belonging to the genus Python. Using a reconstructed 3D model, they estimated the ancient snake’s total length at approximately 4 meters. This size significantly exceeds that of any modern snake species found on the island, with over 50 snake species currently inhabiting Taiwan, none approaching this magnitude.
“This fossil represents the largest and most unexpected fossil snake from Taiwan,” the researchers stated. The vertebra’s structure suggests a powerful constrictor, adapted to a landscape teeming with large prey animals. The presence of such a large predator indicates a complex food web and a significantly different ecological balance than exists in modern Taiwan.
The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting a dramatic faunal turnover in Taiwan since the Pleistocene epoch. The Chiting Formation’s fossils, including the python, saber-toothed cats, and large crocodilians, point to a predator-rich environment. Scientists believe that the niche occupied by these top predators may have remained vacant since the Pleistocene extinction event.
“The vanished top predator, as shown by this large Python or previously published sabre-toothed cat and large crocodile, in the modern biodiversity of Taiwan, indicates a drastic faunal turnover,” the scientists concluded. They propose that further research, including the discovery and analysis of additional fossils, is needed to fully understand the origins of Taiwan’s current biodiversity and the factors that led to these significant ecological shifts.
The Python genus itself is widespread, distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the eastern hemisphere. In Asia, pythons are found from Bangladesh and India eastward through Indochina, southern China, and across the Malayan region of Indonesia and the Philippines. However, their absence from modern Taiwan makes the fossil discovery particularly noteworthy.
The analysis of the fossil vertebra provides valuable insight into the paleogeography of the region. Recent research, published in Science News Today, has also revealed evidence of a lost savannah ecosystem beneath the Taiwan Strait during the Pleistocene epoch. This ancient landscape, characterized by grasslands and meandering rivers, would have provided a suitable habitat for both the large pythons and the megaherbivores that also roamed the area.
The discovery of the ancient python, alongside the evidence of the submerged savannah, highlights the dynamic geological and ecological history of Taiwan and the surrounding region. It underscores the importance of paleontological research in reconstructing past environments and understanding the processes that have shaped modern ecosystems. The findings suggest that Taiwan’s current biodiversity is a relatively recent development, shaped by significant environmental changes and extinctions over the past several hundred thousand years.
