Researchers have described a new-to-science species of horned lizard from the high-elevation, evergreen forests of western Thailand. The lizard, named the Syrax mountain horned dragon, or Acanthosaura syrax, in a recent study, was discovered in Mae Wong National Park. The species name syrax refers to the yellow dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in the fantasy series House of the Dragon. The researchers write they chose the name due to the lizard’s distinctive yellow-hued coloration and its diminutive size. They add they found the lizard only in the upper mountain range of the park, at elevations above 1,300 meters (about 4,300 feet). Study co-author Krittiya Trivalairat, a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology at Mahidol University in Bangkok, told Mongabay by email that the discovery highlights the remarkable biodiversity and ecological richness of Thailand’s forests. “To me, this discovery is not simply about adding another species to the scientific record; it also demonstrates how much biodiversity may still be hidden within these ecosystems,” Trivalairat said. Mountain horned dragons are a group of lizards that live in trees and have a spiny crest running down their necks and backs. To describe the Syrax mountain horned dragon, the researchers surveyed the park’s rugged highlands. They were able to capture specimens by hand since the lizards move slowly. They then took photographs of the live lizards to document their coloration patterns, before euthanizing them. The specimens were subsequently stored for taxonomic review at Thailand’s Natural History Museum. The researchers write that the lizard…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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