Rare fossil find reveals a massive ancient creature
Scientists have identified a newly discovered giant long-necked dinosaur from fossils found in Thailand. The species has been named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis and is now considered the largest dinosaur ever discovered in South East Asia.
The fossils were uncovered near a pond in north eastern Thailand about ten years ago. A research team from the United Kingdom and Thailand later studied the remains and confirmed that they belong to a previously unknown species.
Massive size and ancient origins
This dinosaur belonged to the sauropod family, a group known for long necks and herbivorous diets. It measured around 27 meters in length, about 88 feet, and weighed roughly 27 tonnes. That is equal to the weight of about nine adult Asian elephants.
Researchers estimate that it lived between 100 and 120 million years ago. That places it around 40 million years before the appearance of Tyrannosaurus rex. In size comparison, it was nearly twice as large as T rex.
Meaning behind the name
The name Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis carries cultural and geographical meaning. “Naga” refers to a serpent from South East Asian folklore. “Titan” comes from Greek mythology. Researchers also described it as the “last titan” of Thailand.
What the discovery reveals
Scientists believe this discovery helps explain how ancient climate changes supported the growth of extremely large dinosaurs. The study was led by a Thai doctoral researcher at University College London and published in the journal Scientific Reports.
