Thailand discovery: New lizard species named after Syrax

Scientists have discovered a new species of mountain horned dragon, Acanthosaura syrax, in the high-elevation forests of Mae Wong National Park in western Thailand. The lizard has been named after Syrax, the yellowish dragon from the HBO series ‘House of the Dragon’, due to its small size and similar coloration.

This new species is notable for having the shortest neck and back crest scales documented within its genus. Physical characteristics include a diamond-shaped dark marking across the neck and an absence of the dark eye patches found in related species.

Research indicates that females are larger than males, with the largest female measuring approximately 101.2 millimeters. The species also exhibits high reproductive rates; in a sample of five females, four were found carrying egg clutches ranging from six to 16 eggs. This discovery brings the total number of recognized species in the Acanthosaura genus to 23.