Fossil of Southeast Asia's Largest Dinosaur Discovered in Thailand

Researchers have identified Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the largest dinosaur known from Southeast Asia, following the discovery of its fossils in Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand. Described in a study published in Scientific Reports, this sauropod lived approximately 113 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. The specimen measured nearly 27 meters in length and weighed between 25 and 28 tons. Due to its immense size, it likely faced little threat from predators, such as an eight-meter-long relative of Carcharodontosaurus. The dinosaur was a generalist herbivore, feeding on conifers and seed ferns. The species name honors the Naga, a serpent-like deity in Asian religious traditions. Paleontologists note that N. chaiyaphumensis represents the last titan of the region before it became a shallow sea. While massive, it was smaller than South American sauropods like Argentinosaurus. This discovery significantly enhances understanding of sauropod diversity in Southeast Asia, where few such fossils have been found. The initial discovery was made by a local resident, leading to years of scientific excavation.