Scientists have identified a new species of giant long-necked dinosaur in Thailand, with researchers describing it as the largest dinosaur ever discovered in South-East Asia.
Named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the enormous creature is believed to have weighed around 27 tonnes — roughly equivalent to nine adult Asian elephants — and stretched up to 27 metres long, making it even longer than the famous diplodocus.
The dinosaur belonged to the sauropod family, a group of massive herbivorous dinosaurs recognised for their long necks and tails. Fossils linked to the species were first unearthed beside a pond in north-eastern Thailand around a decade ago before being analysed by researchers from Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Experts said the discovery offers fresh insight into how ancient climate conditions may have contributed to the evolution of gigantic dinosaurs millions of years ago. The species is believed to have roamed Earth between 100 and 120 million years ago, about 40 million years before the appearance of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
The name “Nagatitan” combines references from both Asian and Greek mythology. “Naga” refers to a mythical serpent commonly found in South-East Asian folklore, while “titan” references the powerful gods of Greek mythology. Meanwhile, “chaiyaphumensis” honours Chaiyaphum province, where the fossils were discovered.
The study was led by Thai doctoral student Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul from University College London and published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Sethapanichsakul described the dinosaur as “the last titan” of Thailand because the fossils were found in the country’s youngest dinosaur-bearing rock formation. According to him, younger rock layers from the later dinosaur era are unlikely to contain fossils as the region eventually became a shallow sea.
The researcher, who admitted to being a “dinosaur kid” growing up, also shared that the discovery fulfilled a childhood dream of naming a dinosaur species.
The nagatitan is now the 14th dinosaur species officially named in Thailand. Palaeontologist Sita Manitkoon from Mahasarakham University said Thailand possesses one of Asia’s richest dinosaur fossil records and could rank among the continent’s top regions for prehistoric discoveries.
Researchers further noted that the nagatitan lived during a period when Earth experienced rising carbon dioxide levels and soaring global temperatures. Study co-author Paul Upchurch explained that scientists are still trying to understand how such enormous animals managed to survive in increasingly hot climates, especially since large-bodied creatures tend to retain heat more easily.
He added that warmer conditions may have affected the vegetation relied upon by giant herbivorous dinosaurs for survival, potentially influencing their growth and evolution over time.
