New Giant Sauropod Nagatitan Identified in Thailand
Researchers identified Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a roughly 27-meter sauropod from Chaiyaphum, Thailand, in a study published in Scientific Reports.
Washington TimesFossil of new dinosaur species discovered in Thailand
New York PostScientists discover Southeast Asia’s largest dinosaur in Thailand
BBC NewsGiant new dinosaur identified from remains found in Thailand
NPRResearchers unearth Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur
IFL Science“The Last Titan Of Thailand”: Dinosaur Discovered In Pond Becomes The Largest Ever Found In Asia
Overview
Researchers described Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a sauropod about 27 meters long that researchers estimated weighed roughly 25 to 30.8 tons, in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The fossils were first spotted beside a pond in Chaiyaphum province in 2016 and were excavated between 2016 and 2019, with work restarting in 2024 after new funding.
Lead author Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul and co-author Paul Upchurch said the find sheds light on sauropod size evolution during rising Cretaceous temperatures, and palaeontologist Sita Manitkoon noted Thailand's high dinosaur diversity.
Recovered material includes spine, rib, pelvis and leg bones, featuring a front leg bone about 1.78 meters (5.4 to 5.8 feet), and it is the 14th dinosaur named in Thailand.
Researchers called Nagatitan the "last titan" because it was found in Thailand's youngest dinosaur-bearing rock formation and said the discovery helps trace sauropod trends toward later Cretaceous giants.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present largely neutral coverage, focusing on factual context and sourced expert quotes. They quantify size and age, cite both the lead researcher and an independent paleontologist, acknowledge uncertainties (incomplete skeleton, size estimates) and note local discovery and funding constraints, avoiding loaded editorializing or omitted perspectives.