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).

Y2K debugger

Y2K debugger

As the clock ticked down to the year 2000, computer scientists around the world were fretting about the so-called “Y2K…

‘Mr. Miner’

‘Mr. Miner’

The name “Mr. Miner” may sound like someone related to mascot Joe Miner, and in Jerry Bayless’s case it may…

Gwen (Ingram) and Chase Davis

Gwen (Ingram) and Chase Davis

Gwen (Ingram) and Chase Davis, who both earned their bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from S&T, met after participating in…

Janet Kavandi on faculty support

Janet Kavandi on faculty support

Janet Kavandi, who earned a master’s degree in chemistry in 1982, discusses the importance of...

Jack Carney on the 2008 name change

Jack Carney on the 2008 name change

John F. “Jack” Carney, who served as chancellor at S&T between 2005 and 2011, explains his reasons for...

EV pioneer

EV pioneer

As the auto industry begins to fully embrace the notion of electric vehicles, it has EV pioneers like Jon Bereisa…