A monumental discovery has just been announced in the field of paleontology. On May 14, 2026, a joint team of British and Thai researchers from University College London (UCL) and local universities officially named a new species of giant dinosaur: the Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis.
Unearthed in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum, this behemoth is the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia. Estimates suggest the Nagatitan weighed a staggering 27 tons—equivalent to nine adult elephants—and stretched 27 meters (89 feet) in length.
Belonging to the sauropod family (the long-necked giants like the Brontosaurus), the Nagatitan lived approximately 113 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. “We refer to it as ‘the last titan’ because it was found in the youngest dinosaur-bearing rock formation in Thailand,” said lead researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul. One of its front leg bones alone measures 1.78 meters, nearly the height of a human. This discovery highlights Thailand’s role as a global hotspot for prehistoric research and offers a rare glimpse into the giants that once ruled Asia.
