Researchers have described a previously unknown species of lizard discovered in the high mountain forests of western Thailand. The species, designated Acanthosaura syrax, belongs to a group of agamid lizards commonly referred to as mountain horned dragons, which are characterized by prominent spiny crests extending along the neck and back. The organism was located in an evergreen forest within Mae Wong National Park in Tak-Kamphaeng Phet Province at elevations exceeding 1,300 meters, and has not been documented in any other location to date.
The research team, led by Poramad Trivalairat with support from Chulabhorn Royal Academy and Kasetsart University, selected the name Syrax in reference to a dragon character from the television series House of the Dragon. The team identified several parallels between the fictional dragon and the newly described species. Syrax the dragon displays striking yellow coloration, remains relatively small compared to other dragons, and produces unusually high numbers of eggs. The research team observed comparable traits in the newly identified lizard, including yellowish-green coloration, a body size ranking among the smallest in its genus, and the production of relatively large egg clutches proportional to its body dimensions.
The species exhibits additional distinctive characteristics beyond its thematic naming. It possesses the smallest neck and back crest scales documented within the genus and maintains a generally diminutive body size. Unlike several closely related species, the lizard lacks a black eye patch but instead displays a distinctive dark collar marking. Genetic analysis of two genes confirmed that Acanthosaura syrax is genetically distinct from its nearest known relative, Acanthosaura lepidogaster, and all other recognized species within the group. The discovery brings the total number of recognized species in the genus Acanthosaura to 23.
Conservation considerations prompted the research team to recommend enhanced protection for the high-elevation forests in the Mae Wong region. The lizard appears to occupy only a restricted zone of high-altitude habitat, with rugged terrain naturally fragmenting populations across the mountain range in ways that could increase vulnerability to additional environmental pressures. The team proposed that Acanthosaura syrax could serve as a flagship species for regional conservation efforts alongside other rare fauna in the area, including the Asian forest tortoise, Oldham’s leaf turtle, and the Indochinese tiger. The findings were published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
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