Thailand fossil finds reveal new dinosaur species

Thailand's northeastern provinces are emerging as Southeast Asia's leading dinosaur research area after scientists identified two new species from fossils found in the region.

The discoveries add to a growing collection of prehistoric remains that could soon bring Thailand's total number of recognised dinosaur species to 16, according to researchers at Mahasarakham University.

A dinosaur statue outside a temple offers a hint of the ancient creatures beneath the soil across the northeast, where the country's richest fossil deposits are found.

Filling a gap in the fossil record

The two species identified this year are Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, described as Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur, and the long-necked Uragasaurus kalasinensis.

Richard Cloutier, a visiting palaeontology professor from Canada's Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, said Thailand was "the hotspot for research and discovery" in Southeast Asia, despite China, Mongolia and Russia remaining major fossil-hunting countries.

Suravech Suteethorn, deputy director of Mahasarakham University's Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, said Thai discoveries help fill a gap in records from elsewhere.

"Our local dinosaurs are like missing jigsaw pieces that help establish evolutionary connections, particularly around the Jurassic and Cretaceous period transition, approximately 140 million years ago," he said.

Many fossils confirmed this year were excavated a decade or more ago, but required lengthy research and verification. The university holds numerous further specimens awaiting testing.

A possible 16th Thai dinosaur

At Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen, around two hours from the university, Suravech and his father, veteran palaeontologist and colleague Varuvudh Suteethorn, are carefully excavating a giant fossil neck beneath a makeshift roof protecting the site from monsoon rain.

Suravech would not identify the find, but said its eventual confirmation as Thailand's newest dinosaur would "wow" people.

Varuvudh was among the team that announced Uragasaurus last month. The plant-eater grew to up to 20 metres, or 65 feet, and lived about 150 million years ago. It is the first dinosaur of its kind identified in Thailand.

Nagatitan, a 27-tonne herbivore dating from 100 to 120 million years ago, was named for a Southeast Asian folklore serpent, a Greek giant and Chaiyaphum province, where it was found.

A growing draw beyond Thailand's beaches

For foreign residents, families and visitors looking beyond the usual beach, food and city itineraries, the discoveries offer another reason to visit the rural northeast. A dinosaur museum in Khon Kaen has attracted visitors including retiree Songyos Toongtubtim, while a Kalasin museum opened in 2007 draws hundreds of thousands of people annually.

Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a University College London PhD student and co-author of the Nagatitan paper in Scientific Reports, said the northeast's dry climate, sparse vegetation and suitably aged sedimentary layers make it especially favourable for fossils.

However, palaeontology funding remains limited and the research community is small, with expeditions to remote areas costly. Suravech said researchers were seeking government support, joking that, as a Jurassic Park fan, he was still waiting for a billionaire backer.

Pictures courtesy of Daily Mall

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4 September 2026

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