Researchers have identified a giant new species of long-necked dinosaur in Thailand. This dinosaur is currently thought to be the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia. The discovery was the result of a collaboration between scientists from University College London (UCL), Maha Sarakham University, Suranaree University of Technology and Thailand’s Sirindhorn Museum.
The dinosaur was described in a magazine scientific report After researchers examined the fossil, which was first discovered near the edge of a pond in northeastern Thailand about 10 years ago,
After examining its vertebrae, ribs, pelvic bones and leg bones, the researchers estimated that the giant animal was probably around 27 meters (89 feet) long and weighed about 27 tonnes, equivalent to nine adult Asian elephants. The front leg bones alone were 1.78 meters long (the same length as a human).
Newly identified species given name Nagatitan Chaiyapumensis. This name is a combination of the legendary serpent “Naga” that appears in Thai and Southeast Asian mythology, and “Titan”, which refers to the giant in Greek mythology. The species is named after the Chaiyaphum province where the fossil was discovered. It is the 14th dinosaur species officially named in Thailand.
Giant sauropods of the Early Cretaceous
Nagatitan It belonged to the sauropods, a group of giant plant-eating dinosaurs known for their long necks and tails. Famous sauropods include: diplodocus and brontosaurus. This newly discovered dinosaur lived during the Early Cretaceous Period, 100 million to 120 million years ago.
Lead author Thithiut (Perth) Setapanichisakul, a Thai PhD student in UCL Earth Sciences, said: “Our dinosaurs are large by most people’s standards, weighing as much as Diplodocus Dippy. “It was likely at least 10 tons larger than Diplodocus carnegii, but still smaller than sauropods like Patagotitan (60 tons) and Luyangosaurus.” (50 tons).
“We call Nagatitan Thailand’s ‘last giant’ because it was discovered in a rock formation that is home to the youngest dinosaurs in Thailand. Younger rocks, built towards the end of the dinosaur era, are unlikely to contain dinosaur remains, as by then the area had become a shallow ocean. Therefore, this may be the last or latest large sauropod we can find in Southeast Asia.”
Scientists believe the region was arid to semi-arid during the Early Cretaceous, conditions favorable to sauropods. Researchers believe the animal may have used its long neck and tail to emit heat and regulate its body temperature.
This fossil site shows an ancient river environment inhabited by fish, freshwater sharks, and crocodiles.
Ancient Thailand was home to predators and flying reptiles
This giant dinosaur likely shared its habitat with a variety of other prehistoric animals. Small plant-eating animals such as iguanodonts and early ceratopsians (relatives of iguanodonts) triceratops) lived in this region along with giant predators such as carcharodontosaurids and spinosaurids. Flying reptiles known as pterosaurs also hunted fish along river systems.
classified by researchers Nagatitan As Somphospondiranosauropoda, a branch of the sauropods that spread widely around 120 million years ago. More specifically, it belonged to a subgroup called Euhelopodidae, which is only known from Asia.
Several unique features in the spine, pelvis, and leg bones set this dinosaur apart from its relatives. life-size restoration Nagatitan It is currently on display at the Tainosaurus Museum in Asiatique, Bangkok.
Thailand’s growing dinosaur research scene
Mr Setapanichisakul said: “My dream is to continue to work towards gaining international recognition for the dinosaurs of South East Asia. Further international collaboration between Thailand and other institutions such as UCL will further deepen our understanding of the region’s paleontology and place it in a global context. “This all starts with the identification and description of the first specimen we discover. We have a large collection of sauropod fossils that have not yet been formally described, and these may include many new species.”
“I’ve always been a dinosaur kid, and this research not only establishes a new species, but also fulfills a childhood promise to give dinosaurs names.”
Co-author Professor Paul Upchurch from UCL Earth Sciences said: “This discovery comes from a new collaboration between UCL and colleagues in Thailand. The material was studied both in Thailand and at UCL. Thanks to 3D scanning and printing, we can study specimens and collect data without having to travel (suitable for reducing our carbon footprint).”
“We have a long-standing interest in the evolution of these giant plant-eating animals and have good collaborations with researchers around the world. It’s great to be able to work with our Thai colleagues to gain insight into what was happening in Southeast Asia during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.”
UCL’s Dinosaur Evolution team includes five academics, research fellows, postdoctoral fellows and more than ten PhD students. Some studies focus on the evolution of dinosaurs, while others study vertebrates such as crocodiles and birds.
“Thailand is a small country in Asia, but it has a very high diversity of dinosaur fossils, probably the third richest in Asia in terms of dinosaur fossils,” said Dr. Sita Manitkoon, project leader, National Geographic Explorer, and researcher at the Center for Paleontology Research and Education at Mahasarakham University. “We actually only started studying dinosaurs in Thailand about 40 years ago (after the first dinosaur was named).” (1986), there is already a rapidly growing number of young paleontologists actively engaged in research and promoting paleontology and its importance in the country. ”
This research was funded by the National Geographic Society.
