New Horned Dragon Lizard Species Found in Thailand

Acanthosaura syrax, also called the Syrax mountain horned dragon, is a newly described lizard species from Mae Wong National Park in Thailand. The species was formally published in the taxonomy journal ZooKeys on 2 August 2026 and is placed in the genus Acanthosaura, which contains mountain horned dragons.

Discovery and Taxonomy

Thai researchers Poramad Trivalairat and Krittiya Trivalairat collected the first three specimens on 23 April 2025 in a high-altitude forest site in Mae Wong National Park. They later collected five more specimens in May 2025, bringing the total sample size used in the species description to eight specimens.

The species is the 23rd recognised member of the genus Acanthosaura. The genus belongs to the family Agamidae, which includes many arboreal and semi-arboreal lizards found in South and South-East Asia.

Identification Features

A. syrax was identified as a distinct lineage through DNA analysis of the ND2 and COI genes. The study recorded a genetic distance of 14% to 28% from its closest relatives, which is a standard taxonomic measure used in reptile classification.

Physical characters used to separate the species include the smallest neck and back crest scales recorded in the genus and the absence of a black eye patch. The lizard also has a yellowish-green body colour and relatively large egg clutches.

Habitat and Naming

The species has a restricted distribution in a narrow, high-altitude forest range in northern Thailand. Some reports placed the habitat above 1,000 metres, while the study specified elevations above 1,300 metres.

The name syrax comes from Syrax, a yellow dragon in the television series House of the Dragon. The name was chosen for the lizard’s colour pattern, small size, and reproductive traits.

Important Facts for Exams

• ZooKeys is a peer-reviewed open-access journal that publishes zoological taxonomy and systematics research.
• DNA barcoding in reptiles often uses mitochondrial genes such as COI and ND2 for species identification.
• Mae Wong National Park is a protected area in Thailand and forms part of the country’s forested mountain landscape.
• Agamidae is a family of lizards that includes agamids, dragon lizards, and related species across Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Restricted-range mountain reptiles are often studied for endemism, habitat specificity, and conservation status. Species with isolated populations in high-altitude forests are commonly assessed for vulnerability to habitat change.