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Researchers have announced the discovery of a new species of giant long-necked dinosaur in Thailand, described as the largest ever found in Southeast Asia.
The species, named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, lived approximately 100 to 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
According to findings published in the journal Scientific Reports, the herbivorous dinosaur reached an estimated length of 27 meters (88 feet) and a mass of up to 27 tonnes, equivalent to roughly nine adult Asian elephants.
The fossil remains were first uncovered by local residents in northeastern Thailand around a decade ago. Excavation and scientific analysis were completed in 2024 by an international research team, including scientists from Thailand and University College London.
Although the specimen was incomplete, researchers identified distinct skeletal features that confirmed it as a previously unknown species of sauropod dinosaur.
Lead researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul described the animal as exceptionally large by global standards, noting that it may have been heavier than well-known sauropods such as Diplodocus.
Researchers have informally referred to the species as “the last titan,” as it was discovered in one of the youngest dinosaur-bearing rock formations in Thailand. The region later transitioned into a shallow marine environment, which may explain the absence of younger large sauropod fossils in the area.
The name Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is derived from a combination of Southeast Asian mythology, Greek mythological references, and Chaiyaphum province, where the fossils were found.
A life-size reconstruction of the dinosaur has been installed at the Thainosaur Museum in Bangkok, offering a public display of one of the largest prehistoric animals ever identified in the region.
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