Jurassic Discovery in Thailand Reveals New Long-Necked Species

The specimen was recovered from the Phu Noi site, a prolific fossil bed first identified in 2008 after a local resident spotted fragments resembling serpent scales. Lead researcher Dr. Apirut Nilpanapan of Mahasarakham University noted that the site is comprised of over 90 percent dinosaur remains. A CT scan of the vertebra revealed a distinct Y-shaped arrangement of laminae and an unusual air-cavity structure, features absent in other known sauropods. These physiological traits suggest the 20-meter-long creature utilized its elongated neck to forage vegetation at varying heights, similar to its relatives in China.

Upon realizing the significance of the unique bone structure, Dr. Nilpanapan described a moment of intense, overwhelming excitement. The findings, published this week in the journal Nature, arrive shortly after the identification of Nagatitan, another massive long-necked herbivore unearthed in Thailand. While Nagatitan holds the title for the largest specimen found in South-East Asia at 27 tonnes, the identification of Uragasaurus kalasinensis provides critical new evidence regarding the diversity of Jurassic-era fauna in the region.