Titanoboa – reptile king of the prehistoric rainforest

Sixty million years ago in the steamy prehistoric forests of what is now Colombia, there slithered a 50-foot, 2,500-pound reptile. Its bones were found in an open coal pit in 2006. Carlos Jaramillo thought at first he and his team had found fossils from an ancient crocodile. But no. It was a snake. Jaramillo and his co-researchers published their findings in the journal Nature in February 2009 and named the reptile Titanoboa. The paleontologist earned a master’s degree in geology and geophysics from S&T in 1995.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Cheryl B. Schrader on strategic planning

Cheryl B. Schrader on strategic planning

Cheryl B. Schrader, who served as chancellor between 2012 and 2017, describes her approach to strategic...

Alyssa Purdy and Ryon Owings

Alyssa Purdy and Ryon Owings

Alyssa Purdy and Ryon Owings met during Opening Week in August 2014. Both lived in TJ Hall’s north tower –…

Contributing to a Nobel Prize

Contributing to a Nobel Prize

Dr. Clyde Cowan, ChemE’40, was posthumously recognized for his part in research that earned the 1995 Nobel Prize in physics….

Katie (Fritts) and Mitchell Niehoff

Katie (Fritts) and Mitchell Niehoff

Katie (Fritts) and Mitchell Niehoff met in fall 2006 during that semester’s first meeting of the Perfect 10 Improv group….

Samantha (Smith) and Andrew Keeven

Samantha (Smith) and Andrew Keeven

Although Samantha (Smith) and Andrew Keeven met thanks to mutual friends during St. Pat’s in 2014, they didn’t get to…

Martin Jischke on increasing diversity

Martin Jischke on increasing diversity

Martin C. Jischke, who served as chancellor at UMR between 1986 and 1991, describes the importance...