Giant New Dinosaur Discovered in Thailand

Scientists have identified a new species of giant dinosaur from fossilized remains found in northeastern Thailand. The creature has been named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, and it is the largest dinosaur ever discovered in South-East Asia. Its fossils were first unearthed beside a pond about a decade ago, but researchers have only now completed their full analysis.

The nagatitan belonged to the sauropod family — long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs known for their enormous size. It weighed approximately 27 tonnes, equivalent to nine adult Asian elephants, and stretched 27 metres (88 feet) from head to tail — even longer than a diplodocus. It lived between 100 and 120 million years ago, roughly 40 million years before the tyrannosaurus rex walked the Earth.

The study was led by Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a Thai doctoral student at University College London (UCL), and co-authored by Professor Paul Upchurch. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports. The researchers believe the nagatitan's massive size was linked to rising carbon dioxide levels and higher global temperatures during that era.

Dr Sita Manitkoon of Mahasarakham University noted that Thailand is remarkably rich in dinosaur fossils, with the nagatitan becoming the 14th dinosaur species officially named in the country. Professor Upchurch added that the entire sauropod family grew significantly larger during this warm, high-CO₂ period — a pattern that may offer clues about how climate shapes the evolution of giant animals.

The discovery has excited palaeontologists worldwide. It confirms that South-East Asia was home to some of the most imposing creatures that ever lived, and highlights how much remains to be learned from fossil sites across the region. Researchers plan to continue excavations in Thailand in hopes of uncovering even more ancient species.