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🇸🇮 Slovenia /Culture & Society

Largest Dinosaur Discovered in Thailand (PHOTO)

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Paleontologists in northeastern Thailand have discovered a new species of giant herbivorous dinosaur, the largest found in Southeast Asia.
  • Named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the dinosaur measured approximately 27 meters long and weighed around 27 tons, nearly twice the size of other known Thai sauropods.
  • Fossils were first spotted by a local in 2016, with further excavations revealing more bones, including parts of the legs, spine, ribs, and pelvis.

A remarkable paleontological discovery has been made in northeastern Thailand, where scientists have unearthed a new species of giant herbivorous dinosaur. This colossal creature, christened Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, has been identified as the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia, a testament to the region's rich prehistoric past.

The dinosaur was about 27 meters long and weighed around 27 tons, meaning it was almost twice as large as other known Thai sauropods.

· Scientific ReportsDescribing the size of the newly discovered dinosaur.

The sheer scale of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is astounding. Measuring an estimated 27 meters in length and weighing around 27 tons, it dwarfs other sauropods previously discovered in Thailand, being nearly twice their size. Belonging to the group of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs related to the Diplodocus and Brontosaurus, this find offers invaluable insights into the diversity of life during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 120 to 100 million years ago.

The discovery process itself began serendipitously in 2016 when a local resident noticed fossils near a communal pond during a dry spell. Subsequent excavations by researchers between 2016 and 2019 uncovered numerous bones, including significant portions of the dinosaur's limbs, spine, ribs, and pelvis. Further digging took place last year, solidifying the find.

The humerus of the dinosaur measured almost 1.8 meters and was taller than the researcher himself.

· Thitiwoot SethapanichsakulExpressing astonishment at the size of the fossilized bones.

Lead researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul from University College London expressed awe at the size of the fossils, noting that a single humerus bone measured nearly 1.8 meters—taller than himself. The name 'Nagatitan' cleverly combines 'Naga,' a mythical serpent from Asian folklore, with 'Titan,' referencing the giants of Greek mythology, while 'chaiyaphumensis' honors the province where the fossils were discovered. This discovery not only adds a significant new species to the dinosaur family tree but also highlights Thailand's importance as a key location for dinosaur research in Asia, with extensive Mesozoic-era sedimentary rock layers providing a window into ancient ecosystems.

Thailand is one of the most important areas for dinosaur research in Asia, as it has extensive sedimentary rock layers from the Mesozoic era.

· ResearchersHighlighting Thailand's significance in paleontological studies.
About this summary

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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