Thai Researchers Describe New Sauropod Species Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis from Northeast Thailand

Thai researchers have identified a previously unknown dinosaur species, Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, from remains excavated in northeast Thailand, making it the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia. The long-necked herbivore measured 27 metres in length and weighed about 27 tonnes, as much as nine adult Asian elephants. It weighed at least 10 tonnes more than Dippy the Diplodocus.

The study describing Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis was published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday, 14 May 2026. Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is a sauropod dinosaur that lived between 100 and 120 million years ago. The first remains of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis were unearthed a decade ago by locals in northeast Thailand.

Excavation was not completed until 2024. The remains partially resembled those of previously discovered sauropods but had enough unique features to be considered a new species. The species is named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis after a serpent from Southeast Asian folklore, a giant of Greek mythology, and the province of Chaiyaphum where it was found.

Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a Thai PhD student and lead researcher on the study, said the creature roamed what is now Thailand during the Cretaceous Period. He described Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis as "the last titan" because it was unearthed in one of the youngest rock formations where dinosaurs are found in Thailand.

“Our dinosaur is big by most people's standards – it likely weighed at least 10 tonnes more than Dippy the Diplodocus.”

“— Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, lead researcher The region where Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis was found later became a shallow sea. Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul added that this may be the last or most recent large sauropod discovered in Southeast Asia. A life-size reconstruction of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is on display at Bangkok's Thainosaur Museum. Researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul posed with a front leg bone of the dinosaur at the Sirindhorn Museum in Thailand. The discovery marks a significant addition to the fossil record of Southeast Asia, where large sauropods had previously been less well represented than in other parts of the world. The completion of excavation in 2024 allowed for detailed analysis that confirmed the unique features distinguishing Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis from related species.”