Massive New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Thailand

A new dinosaur species has been discovered by paleontologists, named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, which may be the largest ever found in Southeast Asia. This long-necked, herbivorous sauropod existed between 100 and 120 million years ago, reaching lengths of over 88 feet and weighing close to 30 tons. The find occurred in Chaiyaphum Province, northeastern Thailand, after Thanom Luangnan noticed unusual rocks near a pond in 2016. Initial digs revealed ten bones, including a six-foot front leg bone. Although research paused in 2020 due to funding issues, it resumed in 2023 thanks to a grant from the National Geographic Society. The findings were published on May 14 in Scientific Reports. The genus name merges 'Naga' from Southeast Asian folklore and 'Titan' from Greek mythology, while the species name pays tribute to Chaiyaphum Province. This marks only the 14th named dinosaur from Thailand, a field that has been explored for just four decades. Co-author Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul hopes this discovery will spark greater interest in paleontology, particularly in rural regions.