Anna Hartz
Researchers say it is the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia.
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Dinosaurs disappeared millions of years ago, but scientists are still uncovering new clues about how they lived and evolved. Every major fossil discovery helps researchers better understand what the Earth looked like long before humans existed. Some finds also show just how enormous these ancient animals really were.
The meaning behind its name
Now, a team of British and Thai researchers has identified a completely new dinosaur species from fossils discovered in northeastern Thailand nearly ten years ago, reports DR.
The dinosaur was a giant long-necked plant eater that measured around 27 meters in length and weighed about 27 tons.
The study was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
The new species belongs to a group of dinosaurs known as sauropods. Scientists gave it the name Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis.
The name carries several meanings. “Naga” comes from a serpent creature found in old Thai legends. “Titan” refers to powerful gods from Greek mythology. The final part of the name comes from Chaiyaphum, the Thai province where the fossils were found.
May help understand the climate
Researchers believe the dinosaur lived between 100 and 120 million years ago.
Nagatitan is now the 14th dinosaur species officially discovered and named in Thailand. For the lead author of the study, Thai PhD student Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul from University College London, the discovery fulfilled a childhood dream.
Scientists also believe this dinosaur could be one of the last giant sauropods ever found in the region.
The fossils were discovered in a younger rock formation than previous dinosaur finds in Southeast Asia. Researchers say the area later became covered by a shallow sea, which makes future dinosaur discoveries there less likely.
“Younger rocks probably do not contain dinosaur remains because the region had already become a shallow sea,” Sethapanichsakul explained.
The discovery may also help scientists understand how climate affected dinosaur life millions of years ago.
At that time, carbon dioxide levels on Earth were rising and temperatures were extremely high. Researchers believe the hot climate likely affected the plants that giant sauropods depended on for food.
Scientists also find it surprising that such huge animals managed to survive in those conditions. Large bodies are much harder to cool down in extreme heat.
