Earliest Morelia python

Morelia is a genus of pythons containing seven modern-day species, the most famous of which is the carpet python M. spilota, in turn split into several subspecies, such as the brightly coloured jungle carpet python M. s. cheynei of Queensland, Australia. However, the earliest recorded Morelia python, also from Queensland but known only from incomplete fossil remains dating back approximately 23 million years, is M. riversleighensis. Its remains have been unearthed in Queensland's famous Riversleigh fossiliferous deposits, and it was first documented scientifically in 1985. From its remains, scientists have estimated that it probably attained a length of around 2.14 m.

When this prehistoric species was formally described in 1985, it was assigned to a brand-new genus of its own, Montypythonoides, honouring the iconic British television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus. Later studies of its remains, however, concluded that it was not sufficiently distinct from modern-day Morelia species to warrant its own, separate genus, so it was renamed Morelia riversleighensis, sadly rendering taxonomically obsolete one of the most inspired and memorable genus names ever created!