BANGKOK, Thailand — Scientists have identified the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia after excavating fossil remains of a giant plant-eating sauropod in northeastern Thailand, offering new insight into the region’s prehistoric biodiversity and ancient ecosystems.
The newly identified species, named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, lived approximately 113 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period in what is now Thailand’s Chaiyaphum province.
Researchers estimate the dinosaur measured nearly 27 meters, or about 89 feet, in length and weighed between 25 and 28 tons, making it the largest dinosaur yet recorded in Southeast Asia.
The discovery was announced Thursday in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
Scientists said fossil remains were first noticed by a local villager in Chaiyaphum, prompting years of excavation by paleontologists. Recovered bones included parts of the spine, ribs, pelvis, and limbs, including a humerus measuring 1.78 meters, or nearly 6 feet, long.
The dinosaur belonged to the sauropod family, a group of long-necked herbivores known as the largest land animals in Earth’s history. Sauropods are characterized by massive bodies, long tails, small heads, and four pillar-like legs.
Lead researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul said Nagatitan was likely a “bulk browser,” feeding primarily on high-growing vegetation such as conifers and seed ferns.
The environment where Nagatitan lived was believed to have been subtropical, with forests, shrublands, and open savanna-like habitats. It shared its ecosystem with smaller dinosaurs, flying reptiles known as pterosaurs, crocodiles, freshwater sharks, and large predatory dinosaurs.
According to researchers, the region’s largest predator at the time was likely a relative of Carcharodontosaurus, estimated to reach about 8 meters, or 26 feet, long. Even so, scientists believe adult Nagatitan had little to fear because of its immense size.
“Predators likely avoided healthy adult sauropods because of the danger of being crushed,” said Paul Upchurch, co-author of the study.
The name “Nagatitan” combines “Naga,” the serpent-like figure found in Asian mythology and often depicted in Thai temples, with “titan,” a common suffix used in naming giant sauropods.
Thailand has now identified 14 named dinosaur species, reinforcing the country’s growing importance in paleontological research.
Researchers said the discovery fills a major gap in understanding sauropod evolution in Southeast Asia, where fossil evidence remains relatively scarce compared to regions such as South America and China.
Scientists also noted that Nagatitan lived during a period of rising global temperatures and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, conditions that may have contributed to the evolution of exceptionally large herbivorous dinosaurs.
The discovery provides what researchers describe as a rare glimpse into an ancient world just before giant sauropods reached their peak size globally, millions of years before the mass extinction event that ended the age of dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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