Full Breakdown
Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis – Thailand’s “Last Titan” and the Largest Sauropod Yet Found in Southeast Asia
5/16/2026, 1:41:05 AM
Discovery of the Largest Southeast Asian Sauropod
In 2016 a local in Chaiyaphum Province reported bone fragments near a pond. Excavations (2016-2019, resumed 2024) recovered vertebrae, ribs, pelvis pieces and a 1.78-m humerus. The material was named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis in *Scientific Reports* (14 May 2026).
Geological and Paleoenvironmental Context
The fossils derive from the Early Cretaceous Khok Kruat Formation (100–120 Ma), a semi-arid river floodplain. Co-occurring fauna include freshwater sharks, crocodiles, pterosaurs and large theropods such as carcharodontosaurians.
Key Researchers and Institutions
Lead author Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul (UCL) worked with Paul Upchurch (UCL), Sita Manitkoon (Mahasarakum University) and teams from Suranaree University of Technology and the Sirindhorn Museum. Funding came from the National Geographic Society.
Size, Age, and Anatomical Highlights
Nagatitan measured about 27 m (88 ft) long and weighed ?27 tonnes, comparable to nine Asian elephants. The humerus is 1.78 m long. It belongs to the Euhelopodidae somphospondylan sauropods and is Thailand’s 14th named dinosaur.
Official Statements & Responses
UCL noted the discovery “expands the diversity of somphospondylan titanosauriforms in Southeast Asia” and praised the 3-D scanning workflow. National Geographic highlighted its role in “bringing Southeast Asian dinosaurs into the global narrative.” The Sirindhorn Museum announced a life-size model at the Thainosaur Museum.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our dinosaur is big by most people's standards – it likely weighed at least 10 tonnes more than Dippy the Diplodocus,” — Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, UCL
- “We refer to Nagatitan as ‘the last titan’ of Thailand. That is because it was discovered in Thailand’s youngest dinosaur-bearing rock formation,” — Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, UCL
- “possibly the third most abundant in Asia in terms of dinosaur remains.” — Dr. Sita Manitkoon, Mahasarakum University
- “It is great to work with Thai colleagues and start to get insights into what was happening in Southeast Asia during the Jurassic and Cretaceous.” — Prof. Paul Upchurch, UCL
Timeline of Discovery and Research
- 2016: Local resident Thanom Luangnan reports bone fragments beside a pond in Chaiyaphum.
- 2016-2019: Initial excavation recovers vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and a humerus.
- 2024: New funding enables a second field season and 3-D scanning of the specimens.
- 14 May 2026: The species Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis is formally described in *Scientific Reports*.
Conflicting Measurements & Gaps
Weight estimates vary from 25 tonnes to 30 tonnes and length from 27 m to 28 m. No complete skeleton exists; size is inferred from the humerus and vertebrae.
Implications for Sauropod Evolution
Nagatitan shows that Southeast Asian sauropods reached giant sizes during the Early Cretaceous, supporting a trend of increasing body mass linked to warmer, semi-arid habitats.
Future Work and Prospects
A research centre now operates at the site, and further excavations aim to recover more material. The life-size model is displayed at Bangkok’s Thainosaur Museum for public outreach.
