Thailand Unveils 27-Tonne Nagatitan, First Sauropod Found in Khok Kruat Formation
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · May 14
Thailand Unveils 27-Tonne Nagatitan, First Sauropod Found in Khok Kruat Formation
11 articles · Updated · Nature.com · May 14
Researchers described Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis from a partial skeleton excavated in Chaiyaphum, marking the first diagnostic sauropod identified from Thailand’s Lower Cretaceous Khok Kruat Formation.
The specimen includes dorsal and sacral vertebrae, ribs, a humerus, pelvis and a mostly complete femur; analyses of 153 taxa and 570 characters place it within the euhelopodid branch of somphospondylan titanosauriforms.
Body-mass estimates put Nagatitan at 25–28 tonnes and about 27 meters long, making it the largest sauropod yet known from Southeast Asia and notably bigger than Thailand’s earlier Phuwiangosaurus.
The fossils were first spotted by a local resident in 2016 and excavated through 2024 from the Ban Pha Nang Sua site, where the find also broadens evidence for sauropod diversity and biogeography across mid-Cretaceous Asia.
Why is this 27-ton giant being called the "last titan" of Southeast Asia?
How did a dinosaur twice the size of an elephant thrive in an ancient arid landscape?
Rescued by a grant, what does this discovery reveal about the future of paleontology?
Southeast Asia’s Largest Dinosaur: The Discovery and Impact of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis in Thailand
Overview
On May 14, 2026, scientists announced the discovery of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a new dinosaur species described in Scientific Reports. This major milestone in paleontology was made possible by crucial funding from the National Geographic Society and support from Explorer Sita Manitkoon. Immediately recognized as the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia, Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis marks a monumental find for the region. The discovery not only highlights the growing expertise of local researchers but also promises to deepen our understanding of dinosaur diversity and evolution in Southeast Asia.