Thai scientists and palaeontologists from University College London have identified a new species of gigantic long-necked dinosaur in Thailand [1, 2].

The discovery of *Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis* provides critical insight into the prehistoric fauna of Southeast Asia and establishes a new record for the region's largest known dinosaur [3, 4].

The species was identified following the study of a fossil assemblage found near the edge of a pond in Chaiyaphum province [2, 5]. While the public announcement occurred on May 14, 2026 [3, 6], the fossils were originally uncovered approximately a decade earlier [3, 4].

Researchers estimate the dinosaur reached a length of 27 metres [3]. Its massive scale is further evidenced by an estimated weight of 27 tonnes [5]. To provide a modern comparison, scientists said the creature weighed the same as nine elephants [7].

The team led by University College London worked alongside Thai researchers to categorize the specimen [1, 2]. The identification of this sauropod highlights the exceptional size of certain prehistoric herbivores that once inhabited the area, a finding that distinguishes the region's paleontological record from other parts of Asia [4, 7].

By analyzing the fossil remains, the team was able to confirm that the animal belonged to a new species entirely [3, 4]. The discovery underscores the importance of long-term study of fossil sites, as the transition from the initial find to the formal naming of the species took years of research [3, 4].

“Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is claimed to be the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia.”

The identification of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis shifts the understanding of dinosaur biodiversity in Southeast Asia. By proving that such massive sauropods existed in Thailand, the find suggests the region could have supported larger biomasses and different ecological structures than previously documented, potentially linking the region's prehistoric environment to other global dinosaur hotspots.