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Key Takeaways✦ Atlas AI
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New dinosaur species identified in Thailand.
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Largest dinosaur found in Southeast Asia.
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Weighed 27 tons, lived 100-120 million years ago.
Atlas AI
Scientists in Thailand have identified a new dinosaur species, Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, from skeletal remains, marking the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia. The long-necked herbivore, estimated to have weighed approximately 27 tons and measured 88 feet, roamed the region between 100 million and 120 million years ago. Its discovery, detailed in the journal Scientific Reports, provides new insights into prehistoric ecosystems in the area.
The initial remains were unearthed a decade ago by local residents in northeast Thailand, with excavation concluding in 2024. Researchers determined the creature's unique features distinguished it as a new species, which they named after a mythological serpent-like creature and the Greek word for giant. This sauropod's estimated weight is comparable to nine adult Asian elephants, significantly larger than its contemporary predators.
Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, the lead researcher, referred to the dinosaur as "the last titan" due to its discovery in one of the youngest rock formations containing dinosaur remains in Thailand. This suggests it may represent the final large sauropod found in Southeast Asia before the region transformed into a shallow sea. A life-size reconstruction of the Nagatitan is currently on display at Bangkok's Thainosaur Museum.
