Thailand unearths the largest dinosaur fossil in Southeast Asia.

Scientists have just identified a dinosaur species, nearly 27 meters long and weighing up to 28 tons, discovered in Thailand as the largest ever recorded in Southeast Asia. This new discovery also provides further clues about the ancient ecosystem during a period of intense global warming more than 100 million years ago.

The newly identified dinosaur species, named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis , lived approximately 113 million years ago in what is now northeastern Thailand. Fossils of this species were unearthed in Chaiyaphum province after years of research, according to a publication in the journal Scientific Reports .

Illustration of the long-legged dinosaur Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis , which lived during the Cretaceous period, with fossils unearthed in Thailand. Photo: Reuters

The research team, led by paleontologists from University College London (UK), focused on analyzing the spine, ribs, pelvis, and leg bones of this giant dinosaur.

The most striking feature is the size of the Nagatitan. Its forearm alone measured 1.78 meters in length, nearly the height of an adult human. Based on the size of its forearm, thigh, and hind legs, scientists estimate the animal weighed approximately 25-28 tons.

“Nagatitan was most likely a herbivore, consuming large quantities of plants such as conifers and seed ferns with almost no chewing required,” said Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a paleontology PhD student at College London and lead author of the study.

Nagatitan was the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia. Photo: Reuters

According to the research team's description, the area where Nagatitan lived at that time had a subtropical climate with sparse forests interspersed with dry grasslands. This ecosystem was also home to many other dinosaur species, flying lizards, crocodiles, and even freshwater sharks.

Scientists believe that despite living alongside many predators, adult Nagatitans had virtually no natural rivals due to their enormous size. Sethapanichsakul noted that other predators of the same era were much smaller and unlikely to attack a healthy adult individual.

Paul Upchurch, a paleontologist at University College London and co-author of the study, said that long-necked dinosaurs typically grew very quickly after hatching to reduce the risk of being preyed upon.

"Their rapid growth rate allows them to reach a size that is safe from predators quickly," he said.

The new discovery also helps scientists better understand the diversity of herbivorous long-necked dinosaurs in Southeast Asia, a region where very few fossils of this group have been recorded.

Notably, Nagatitans lived during a period of sharply rising CO2 concentrations and global temperatures. Researchers suggest that the climatic conditions at the time may have been one of the reasons why many herbivorous dinosaurs grew to exceptionally large sizes.

"Nagatitan offers insight into a period when Earth reached its peak in terms of both temperature and dinosaur body size," Upchurch said.

According to Reuters

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thai-lan-khai-quat-hoa-thach-khung-long-lon-nhat-dong-nam-a-750085.html