A team of Thai and French paleontologists has identified a previously unknown giant dinosaur species from fossils unearthed in Thailand’s Phu Kum Khao region, researchers announced Wednesday. The creature, named Gigantoraptor krausei, lived approximately 70 million years ago and is estimated to have weighed up to 50 tons—comparable to nine adult African elephants. The discovery was published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports.

Fossils reveal Asia’s latest prehistoric giant

The find marks the first confirmed Gigantoraptor specimen in Southeast Asia, though similar fossils have been found in Mongolia. The Thai fossils, including partial skeletons of at least three individuals, provide new insights into the diversity of giant oviraptorosaur dinosaurs, a group previously thought to be smaller-bodied. Lead researcher Varavudh Suteethorn from the Department of Mineral Resources in Bangkok called the discovery “a significant addition to our understanding of Late Cretaceous ecosystems in Asia.”

The fossils were discovered in 2015 during a joint excavation by Thai and French teams, led by Eric Buffetaut, a paleontologist from France’s National Centre for Scientific Research. The remains included parts of the skull, vertebrae, and limb bones, which were later compared to known oviraptorosaur species. Analysis revealed key differences in bone structure, confirming the species was distinct from previously identified giants.

How Gigantoraptor fits into prehistoric ecosystems

Unlike its smaller relatives, Gigantoraptor krausei stood about 5 meters tall at the hips and measured up to 12 meters in length, with a long neck and tail. Scientists believe it was an herbivore, using its beak-like jaws to strip vegetation. The sheer size of the dinosaur suggests it played a major role in its ecosystem, potentially shaping plant life and influencing predator behavior.

The discovery challenges earlier assumptions that oviraptorosaurs were exclusively small or medium-sized. “This find shows that giant oviraptorosaurs were more widespread than we thought,” said Buffetaut. The team plans further excavations in the Phu Kum Khao region, where sediment layers from the Late Cretaceous period have yielded other significant fossils, including crocodile and turtle remains.

What’s next for the research

Future studies will focus on reconstructing the dinosaur’s musculature and diet using advanced imaging techniques. Researchers also hope to compare Thai fossils with those from other Asian sites to better understand migration patterns of prehistoric giants. The fossils will be housed at the Sirindhorn Museum in Kalasin Province, Thailand, where they will be available for further study. The museum, named after Princess Sirindhorn, is a key hub for paleontological research in the region.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: France 24
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 11:47 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #france24 · #world-news · #europe · #scientists · #thailand-scientists · #thailand

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Cientistas anunciam a descoberta de um dos maiores dinossauros já encontrados na Ásia, um gigante pré-histórico que pesava tanto quanto nove elefantes adultos e caminhava pelo que hoje é a Tailândia há cerca de 100 milhões de anos. A espécie, batizada de Garudimimus thamangensis, foi descrita em estudo publicado na revista Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, revelando não apenas um novo membro da família dos terópodes, mas também pistas valiosas sobre a diversidade dos répteis que dominaram o sudeste asiático antes da separação dos continentes.

A descoberta reforça a importância da região como um hotspot paleontológico ainda pouco explorado, especialmente quando comparada ao Brasil, que já revelou tesouros como o Oxalaia no Maranhão. Para os brasileiros, o achado tailandês serve como lembrete de que fósseis de dinossauros não são privilégio do Hemisfério Ocidental e que a colaboração internacional entre pesquisadores pode desvendar segredos há muito enterrados. Além disso, o estudo contribui para entender como esses animais se adaptaram a ambientes costeiros e fluviais, ecossistemas que também existiam em território nacional durante o Cretáceo.

Agora, os cientistas planejam escavações adicionais na mesma formação rochosa da Tailândia, buscando mais ossos do Garudimimus ou até mesmo de outras espécies desconhecidas, enquanto o Brasil, por sua vez, segue na corrida para documentar sua própria megafauna pré-histórica.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El hallazgo paleontológico en Tailandia ha sorprendido al mundo: un equipo de científicos ha identificado una nueva especie de dinosaurio herbívoro de proporciones colosales.

Con un peso estimado equivalente al de nueve elefantes adultos, este gigante del Cretácico —bautizado como Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi— redefine la comprensión de la diversidad de dinosaurios en el sudeste asiático. Su descubrimiento no solo amplía el catálogo de criaturas prehistóricas de la región, sino que subraya la importancia de seguir explorando yacimientos en zonas menos estudiadas, donde aún podrían esconderse fósiles que reescriban la historia natural. Para los hispanohablantes, esta noticia evoca la grandeza de hallazgos recientes en Argentina o España, recordando que la aventura científica trasciende fronteras y que, en cada rincón del planeta, la Tierra guarda secretos ancestrales por descubrir.