Nagaтιтan chaiyaphumensis: Thailand’s 27-Metre Giant Rewrites Southeast Asian Prehistory

In a landmark Scientific Reports paper published May 2026, Thai and international researchers have formally named Nagaтιтan chaiyaphumensis — the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia. The partial skeleton, found by chance near a village pond in Chaiyaphum Province, northeastern Thailand, comes from the Early Cretaceous Khok Kruat Formation (~120–100 million years ago).

Estimated at 27 metres long and 45–54 tonnes — the weight of nine African elephants — this colossal тιтanosauriform possessed a single front limb bone measuring 1.78 metres. The name honours the legendary Naga serpent of Thai mythology combined with “тιтan” and the discovery province.

Phylogenetic analysis places Nagaтιтan within Euhelopodidae, but it does not form an endemic clade with Thailand’s other known sauropods (Phuwiangosaurus and Tangvayosaurus). Its diagnostic vertebral features highlight greater тιтanosauriform diversity than previously recognised.

Crucially, Nagaтιтan is the geologically youngest sauropod in Thailand — “the last тιтan” — before rising sea levels flooded much of the region later in the Cretaceous. Its enormous size supports models linking Middle Cretaceous warming and expanded dry, open habitats to a boom in giant Asian sauropods.

Discovered by a local villager and now the 14th named dinosaur from Thailand, Nagaтιтan proves Southeast Asia hosted true giants and forces a complete re-evaluation of тιтanosauriform biogeography across the continent. The “last тιтan” has finally stepped into the light.