Phuwiangosaurus

Phuwiangosaurus was an Early Cretaceous titanosauriform sauropod unearthed in the Sao Khua Formation of northeastern Thailand. Named in honour of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the Phu Wiang district where it was recovered, it is one of Southeast Asia's best-known fossil vertebrates. The animal reached an estimated length of fifteen to nineteen metres and possessed robust limbs, a long neck, and relatively narrow spatulate teeth well adapted to cropping tough leaves. Excavations have uncovered numerous individuals, including juveniles and exceptionally preserved hatchling bones, offering scientists rare glimpses into sauropod ontogeny and growth rates. Anatomically, it shows strong affinities with other Asian titanosauriforms such as Euhelopus. It shared its semi-arid floodplain environment with spinosaurid and metriacanthosaurid carnivores.

Multiple growth stages, ranging from tiny hatchlings to full-grown adults, are known from Thai excavations.

Where and when

Phuwiangosaurus lived in the Early Cretaceous, from 130 to 125 million years ago (Barremian age). Its remains come from Thailand, in the Sao Khua Formation.

The numbers

Length 17 m (estimates run from 15 to 19 m). Mass about 13 t. Hip height about 3 m. That is 10 human-lengths, or 1.52 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, first ma, last ma, hip height.

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