Trending Now - Newly Discovered Titanosaur Fossils Expand Southeast Asia's Dinosaur Diversity

WHO:

BBC News - Researchers from University College London, Mahasarakham University, Suranaree University of Technology, and Sirindhorn Museum in Thailand.

WHAT:

NPR - The estimated body mass of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is approximately 30 tons, with a body length of about 90 feet.

NPR - The fossils date back to the late Early Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 120 million years ago.

NPR - The researchers have identified Nagatitan as the 14th named dinosaur discovered in Thailand.

NPR - A front leg bone of Nagatitan was nearly 6 feet long.

NPR - The estimated body mass of Nagatitan is approximately 27 tonnes, with a body length of 27 meters.

BBC News - The discovery is significant for Southeast Asia's dinosaur diversity, marking it as the largest dinosaur found in the region.

Nature - The fossils of Nagatitan were first discovered by a local resident in 2016, with initial excavation occurring between then and 2019, but funding issues halted progress until excavation resumed in 2024.

NPR - The Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is estimated to be about 90 feet long and weigh around 30 tons, which is equivalent to more than four large African savanna elephants or more than three times the weight of a Tyrannosaurus rex.

NPR - The fossils of Nagatitan were first discovered by a local resident in 2016, with initial excavation occurring between then and 2019, but funding issues halted progress until excavation resumed in 2024.

NPR - The researchers have named the discovery the "last titan" of Thailand, indicating that they do not expect to find any more large dinosaurs in Southeast Asia due to the geological changes in the region.

BBC News - The discovery of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis may represent the last or most recent large sauropod found in Southeast Asia, as younger rocks from the end of the dinosaur era are unlikely to contain dinosaur remains due to the region becoming a shallow sea.

Nature - The generic name "Nagatitan" is derived from "Naga," referring to a mythological serpent-like creature in various Asian cultures, particularly in northeastern Thailand, and "titan," a giant in Greek mythology.

Nature - The specific epithet "chaiyaphumensis" is derived from the province of Chaiyaphum, Thailand.

Phys.org - The estimated body mass of Nagatitan is approximately 27 tonnes, with a body length of 27 meters, making it the largest dinosaur found in Southeast Asia.

BBC News - A new type of long-necked plant-eating dinosaur named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis has been identified.

Nature - Nagatitan is the largest dinosaur found in Southeast Asia, weighing as much as nine elephants.

Nature - The estimated body mass of Nagatitan is approximately 27 tonnes, with a body length of 27 meters.

WHERE:

Nature - The fossils were discovered in Ban Pha Nang Sua, Nong Bua Rawe District, Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand.

Phys.org - The discovery is significant for Southeast Asia's dinosaur diversity.

WHEN:

Nature - The fossils date back to the Aptian–Albian period of the upper Lower Cretaceous.

WHY:

NPR - Researchers believe that rising seas transformed the landscape, making it unlikely to find more large dinosaurs in Southeast Asia.

BBC News - Researchers believe that the geological changes in the region indicate that they do not expect to find any more large dinosaurs in Southeast Asia.

Phys.org - The discovery of Nagatitan enriches the diversity of somphospondylan titanosauriforms in Southeast Asia.

HOW:

Nature - Nagatitan can be diagnosed by a unique combination of skeletal features, including specific characteristics of the vertebrae and limbs.

Nature - Nagatitan can be diagnosed by a unique combination of skeletal features, including specific characteristics of the vertebrae and limbs, such as paired postzygapophyseal centrodiapophyseal fossa and triangular anterior aliform processes.

Nature - The identification of Nagatitan was based on a unique combination of skeletal features, including specific characteristics of the vertebrae and limbs.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Scientists have identified a new dinosaur species named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, which is estimated to weigh around 30 tons and measure about 90 feet in length. The fossils of this massive creature date back to the late Early Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 120 million years ago, and include a front leg bone that is nearly 6 feet long. Researchers note that rising seas have altered the landscape in Southeast Asia, making it unlikely that more large dinosaurs will be discovered in the region.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 13:27 UTC)

A significant discovery has been made in Southeast Asia with the identification of Nagatitan, a massive dinosaur estimated to weigh around 27 tonnes and measuring 27 meters in length, making it the largest dinosaur found in the region. The fossils were initially uncovered by a local resident in 2016, with excavation efforts interrupted by funding issues until they resumed in 2024. Researchers have noted that geological changes in the area suggest they do not anticipate finding any more large dinosaurs in Southeast Asia, and Nagatitan is distinguished by a unique combination of skeletal features, particularly in its vertebrae and limbs.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 09:50 UTC)

Researchers have unveiled a remarkable discovery in Thailand, naming the newly identified dinosaur species Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, which measures about 90 feet long and weighs around 30 tons, comparable to more than four large African savanna elephants. The fossils were first found by a local resident in 2016, but excavation was delayed due to funding issues until it resumed in 2024. This discovery is being referred to as the "last titan" of Thailand, as experts believe that geological changes in Southeast Asia make it unlikely that any more large dinosaurs will be found in the region.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 23:18 UTC)

A significant discovery has been made with the identification of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, which may be the last or most recent large sauropod found in Southeast Asia. This finding is particularly important because younger rocks from the end of the dinosaur era are unlikely to hold any dinosaur remains, as the region transformed into a shallow sea. The implications of this discovery could reshape our understanding of dinosaur history in that area.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 21:30 UTC)

Scientists have identified a new dinosaur named Nagatitan, which is derived from the mythological serpent "Naga" and the Greek word for giant, "titan." This remarkable creature, estimated to weigh around 27 tonnes and measuring 27 meters in length, is recognized as the largest dinosaur discovered in Southeast Asia, with its name reflecting the province of Chaiyaphum in Thailand. Nagatitan is distinguished by a unique set of skeletal features, including specific traits in its vertebrae and limbs that set it apart from other dinosaurs.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 19:33 UTC)

Researchers from University College London, Mahasarakham University, Suranaree University of Technology, and Sirindhorn Museum in Thailand have identified a new type of long-necked plant-eating dinosaur named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, which is the largest dinosaur found in Southeast Asia, weighing as much as nine elephants. The fossils, discovered in Ban Pha Nang Sua in Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand, date back to the Aptian–Albian period of the upper Lower Cretaceous and reveal that Nagatitan had an estimated body mass of approximately 27 tonnes and a length of 27 meters. This discovery enriches the diversity of somphospondylan titanosauriforms in Southeast Asia, based on a unique combination of skeletal features, including specific characteristics of the vertebrae and limbs.