Can the giant snake predict palaeoclimate?

@article{Denny2009CanTG,
  title={Can the giant snake predict palaeoclimate?},
  author={Mark W. Denny and Brent L. Lockwood and George N. Somero},
  journal={Nature},
  year={2009},
  volume={460},
  pages={E3-E4}
}
Arising from: J. J. Head et al. 457, 715–717 (2009)10.1038/nature07671; Head et al. replyIn their report on Titanoboa cerrejonensis, Head et al. propose that the great size of this 58 to 60 million-year-old snake (estimated length = 13 m, mass = 1,135 kg) indicates a mean annual neotropical temperature (MAT) of 30–34 °C, substantially higher than previous estimates for that period. They argue that the high MAT was necessary to compensate for the decreased mass-specific metabolic rate intrinsic… 
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Re-calibrating the snake palaeothermometer
Arising from: J. J. Head et al. 457, 715–717 (2009)10.1038/nature07671; Head et al. replyIn a recent study a new proxy for palaeoclimate reconstructions was proposed on the basis of a theoretical…
Head et al. reply
Replying to: J. M. K. Sniderman 460, 10.1038/nature08222 (2009); A. M. Makarieva, V. G. Gorshkov & B.-L. Li 460, 10.1038/nature08223 (2009); M. W. Denny, B. L. Lockwood & G. N. Somero 460,…
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The new taxon has a relatively small body size in comparison with other species of Eocaiman, a case paralleled by other Itaboraian reptilian groups (e.g. snakes), suggesting that this ecosystem provides critical data to test the relationship between reptilian body size and climate.
Towards a Middle Pleistocene terrestrial climate reconstruction based on herpetofaunal assemblages from the Iberian Peninsula: State of the art and perspectives

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