Thai and British paleontologists have identified a new species of giant long-necked dinosaur, Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, from fossils found in Thailand.
The discovery is significant because it represents the largest dinosaur species ever identified in Southeast Asia. It provides new data on the diversity of prehistoric life in the region during the Cretaceous period.
Researchers, including University College London paleontologist Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, analyzed the remains to determine the animal's scale. The dinosaur is estimated to have reached a length of 27 metres, or 88 feet [1]. Its weight is estimated at 27 tonnes, which is roughly equivalent to nine adult Asian elephants [1].
The fossils were uncovered in Thailand's Chaiyaphum province. The discovery began when a man spotted strange-looking rocks near a pond, which were later identified as the bones of the massive creature [2], [3].
Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis lived approximately 100 to 120 million years ago [4], [5]. This period coincides with the Cretaceous period, a time of significant evolutionary development for long-necked dinosaurs.
Thailand has a growing record of prehistoric finds. This new species brings the total number of named dinosaur species from Thailand to 14 [2]. The identification of such a massive specimen suggests that the environment of ancient Southeast Asia could support megafauna on a scale previously underestimated by researchers [1], [3].
“the largest dinosaur species ever found in Southeast Asia”
The identification of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis shifts the understanding of dinosaur distribution and size limits in Southeast Asia. By confirming that the region supported titans of this scale 100 to 120 million years ago, scientists can better reconstruct the paleoecology and food webs of the Cretaceous period in Asia.
