Scientists have uncovered the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia in Thailand’s northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. The newly identified species, Nagatitan chayaphumensis, is a giant herbivorous sauropod estimated to have measured nearly 90 feet (27 meters) in length and weighed between 25 and 28 tonnes.

The fossilized remains were initially discovered by a local villager and subsequently excavated over several years by a team of researchers. The recovered bones include vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, and notably a front leg bone called the humerus measuring approximately 1.78 meters (5.8 feet) long. Although the skull and teeth were not preserved, scientists inferred its feeding habits based on related sauropods. Nagatitan likely browsed on large quantities of foliage that required little chewing, such as conifers and possibly seed ferns.

This dinosaur lived during the Cretaceous Period around 113 million years ago, in what was then a warm, subtropical environment marked by a mix of forested areas, savanna-like terrain, and shrubland. Nagatitan shared its habitat with various other dinosaurs, flying reptiles known as pterosaurs, and aquatic life such as crocodiles and freshwater sharks.

Predatory threats in the region included a carnivorous dinosaur related to the giant African Carcharodontosaurus, measuring about 8 meters (26 feet) in length and weighing around 3.5 tonnes. Despite this, Nagatitan’s enormous size likely shielded it from most predators, as attacking a healthy adult would have been risky. Scientists suggest that only the vulnerable—such as juveniles or weakened adults—would have been potential targets.

Sauropods are known for their rapid growth rates after hatching, a strategy believed to reduce predation risk by quickly reaching a size that deterred attackers. While Nagatitan was among the largest land animals of its time and place, it was smaller than some South American sauropods like Argentinosaurus and Patagotitan, which could exceed 30 meters in length.

The dinosaur’s name draws inspiration from “Naga,” a serpent-like figure significant in various Asian religious traditions and prominently featured in Thai temple art. Nagatitan’s designation also reflects a tradition of naming large sauropods with the suffix “titan.” Researchers consider Nagatitan to be Southeast Asia’s last titan, as the region transitioned to a shallow sea later in the Cretaceous Period, which likely ended the presence of large sauropods there.

To date, fourteen dinosaur species have been formally identified in Thailand, contributing to a growing understanding of the region’s prehistoric life.