Madtsoia

Madtsoia is an extinct genus of very large snakes that lived during the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, approximately 70 to 55 million years ago. Fossils have been found in South America, Africa, and Europe, suggesting a wide geographical distribution. Madtsoia is the type genus for the Madtsoiidae family, a group of extinct snakes that are characterized by their robust vertebrae and often large size.

These snakes are not closely related to any living snake family. Phylogenetic analyses suggest they represent an early branch within snakes, potentially related to basal groups. Madtsoia species were likely terrestrial predators. Their size indicates they may have preyed on large vertebrates such as dinosaurs (particularly young or smaller species) or other reptiles and mammals present in their environment.

The size of Madtsoia varied among different species. While some were moderately sized, others, like Madtsoia bai, reached lengths of up to 5 meters or more. This would have made them significant predators in their ecosystems.

The extinction of Madtsoia and other madtsoiid snakes is thought to be linked to environmental changes and competition from other snake lineages that evolved later in the Cenozoic Era. Further research and fossil discoveries continue to refine our understanding of Madtsoia and its place in snake evolution.