Researchers from University College London and other paleontologists have identified a new giant sauropod dinosaur named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis [1].
The discovery rewrites the prehistoric record of Southeast Asia. Scientists said the species may represent the last giant sauropod in the region before rising seas altered the landscape [2, 3].
The dinosaur lived more than 100 million years ago [4]. While fossils were originally found about 10 years ago [5], the formal identification was announced on May 15, 2026 [6]. The remains were located in northeastern Thailand, specifically near the village of Ban Pha Nang Sua in Chaiyaphum Province [7, 8].
Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis reached an estimated length of 89 feet [9]. Weight estimates for the creature vary among reports. One estimate places the dinosaur at around 27 tonnes [10], while another suggests it weighed as much as nine elephants, or approximately 45 tonnes [11].
Sauropods are known for their massive size and long necks. This specific find is the largest ever recorded in Southeast Asia [2, 3]. The presence of such a massive herbivore provides new insight into the ecosystem of the region during the Cretaceous period.
The identification process involved detailed analysis of the fossils found in the Chaiyaphum Province. By comparing these remains to other known species, the team confirmed that Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis was a distinct, and massive, addition to the paleontological record [1, 3].
“The discovery rewrites the prehistoric record of Southeast Asia.”
The identification of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis fills a critical gap in the evolutionary history of Southeast Asia. Its status as a possible 'last titan' suggests a tipping point where environmental changes, specifically rising sea levels, made the region uninhabitable for the largest land animals, eventually leading to the disappearance of giant sauropods from the area.
