Nagaтιтan chaiyaphumensis: The 27-Metre “Naga тιтan” Shatters Records as Southeast Asia’s Largest Dinosaur

A colossal new тιтanosauriform sauropod, Nagaтιтan chaiyaphumensis, has been formally described from Thailand’s Khok Kruat Formation, instantly becoming the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia and sending shockwaves through the paleontological community.

The partial skeleton — including vertebrae, ribs, pelvic elements, and a 1.78-metre-long humerus — was first spotted in 2016 by local resident Thanom Luangnan near a pond in Chaiyaphum Province. Excavated and studied over the following decade, the fossils date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian stages, ~120–100 million years ago). Published May 14, 2026, in Scientific Reports by Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul and colleagues, the analysis places Nagaтιтan within the Euhelopodidae clade and estimates a body length of 27 metres and mᴀss of 25–28 tonnes.

The name combines “Naga” (the legendary serpent of Southeast Asian folklore) with “тιтan,” while the species name honours Chaiyaphum. Unique vertebral features, including two distinct hyposphene-hypantrum morphologies, distinguish it from other regional sauropods such as Phuwiangosaurus and Tangvayosaurus.

This discovery marks Thailand’s 14th named dinosaur species and supports the idea that warm, open Middle Cretaceous habitats across Asia promoted the evolution of giant somphospondylians. The holotype is housed at the Sirindhorn Museum in Thailand.

Nagaтιтan chaiyaphumensis proves that Southeast Asia hosted true тιтans on a scale rivalling some of the world’s most famous giants — rewriting the biogeography of giant sauropods and confirming that the “Age of Dinosaurs” in this region was far more spectacular than previously imagined.