Spinosaurus Relative: Longer Than a Truck Stalked Thailand
Here’s a breakdown of the key details from the provided text:
* New Spinosaurid Discovery: A new spinosaurid dinosaur has been discovered in Thailand.
* Spinosaurids: These are a group of large, fish-eating predators related to Spinosaurus, known for their long necks and spines on their backs. Spinosaurus could grow up to 50 feet long.
* Location: The fossils were found in the Sam Ran locality of the Khok Kruat rock formation in northeastern Thailand.
* Nickname: Researchers have nicknamed it the “Sam Ran spinosaurid.”
* Distinguishing Features: This new species has features that set it apart from other known spinosaurids:
* Shorter spines than Spinosaurus.
* more paddle-like spines than Ichthyovenator (from Laos).
* Significance: The discovery suggests dinosaur diversity in Southeast asia was greater than previously thought and helps understand the evolution and spread of spinosaurines in Asia.
* Research Status: The findings haven’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet, but were presented at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting in November 2025.
* Researcher: adun Samathi, an assistant professor at the Walai Rukhavej Botanical Research Institute and Mahasarakham University in Thailand, is a key researcher on the project.