Acanthosaura syrax
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| Acanthosaura syrax | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Missing taxonomy template (fix): | Acanthosaura |
| Species: | Template:Taxonomy/AcanthosauraA. syrax
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| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxonomy/AcanthosauraAcanthosaura syrax P. Trivalairat, K. Trivalairat, Moungkhaek, Caponov & Lorsunyaluck, 2026
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Acanthosaura syrax, commonly known as the Syrax mountain horned dragon, is a species of agamid lizard in the genus Acanthosaura. It is known from high-elevation evergreen forest in Mae Wong National Park in western Thailand. The species was formally described in 2026 from specimens collected at approximately 1,340 m (4,400 ft) above sea level.[1][2]
The species is among the smallest known members of Acanthosaura and has the smallest neck and dorsal crest scales recorded in the genus. Its recognition increased the number of described species in the genus to 23.[1]
Taxonomy and naming
Acanthosaura syrax was described in 2026 by Poramad Trivalairat, Krittiya Trivalairat, Nawee Moungkhaek, Simon Caponov and Benchapol Lorsunyaluck. The adult male holotype, catalogued as THNHM31129, was collected in Mae Wong District, Kamphaeng Phet province, Thailand. The type series was deposited at the Thailand Natural History Museum.[1]
The specific name, syrax, refers to Syrax, the yellow dragon ridden by Rhaenyra Targaryen in the fantasy television series House of the Dragon. The authors chose the name because of similarities they identified between the fictional dragon and the lizard, including yellowish coloration, comparatively small size and relatively large egg clutches. They proposed “Syrax mountain horned dragon” as its English common name.[1][3][4]
Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 and COI genes recovered the specimens as a distinct monophyletic lineage. The reported genetic distances between A. syrax and other members of the genus were 14.1–15.9% for ND2 and 14.96–28.13% for COI. Genetic variation among the examined specimens was considerably lower, reaching no more than 0.01% for ND2 and 0.34% for COI.[1]
Description
Acanthosaura syrax is a comparatively small mountain horned dragon. Like other members of its genus, it has pointed scales forming crests along its neck and back. Its nuchal and dorsal crest scales are shorter than those recorded in any other described species of Acanthosaura.[1]
The lizard has yellowish-green tones in its coloration and a distinctive dark collar marking. It lacks the conspicuous black patch around the eye found in several related species. Other diagnostic characteristics include the proportions of its head and tail, the size of its postorbital spine and details of its scale arrangement.[1][5]
Both morphological comparisons and mitochondrial DNA analyses distinguish the species from other members of Acanthosaura. Its closest sampled relative was Acanthosaura lepidogaster, from which it was separated by substantial genetic and morphological differences.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species is currently known only from Mae Wong National Park in the mountainous Tak–Kamphaeng Phet region of western Thailand. The type locality is in Mae Wong District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, at approximately 1,340 m (4,400 ft) above sea level.[1]
All known specimens were found in high-elevation evergreen forest. Field observations indicated that the species has a restricted altitudinal distribution and is chiefly associated with forest above approximately 1,300 m (4,300 ft). It was not encountered in lower-elevation areas surveyed by the researchers.[1][2]
The rugged mountain landscape separates suitable areas of habitat and may also isolate individual populations. The researchers recommended surveys of neighboring mountain ranges to determine whether the species occurs outside Mae Wong National Park.[1][4]
Ecology and reproduction
Little is known about the ecology of A. syrax. Available field observations indicate that it is active during the day and inhabits upper-elevation evergreen forest. As with other mountain horned dragons, it is associated with vegetation in moist forest habitat.[1]
Females examined by the researchers produced clutches of between six and sixteen eggs. This is considered a comparatively large reproductive output in relation to the lizard's small body size.[3][1]
Conservation
Acanthosaura syrax has a very small known distribution, and no populations have yet been documented outside the high-elevation forest of Mae Wong National Park. Its apparent restriction to fragmented mountain habitat could make it vulnerable to habitat disturbance and environmental change.[1][3]
The describing authors called for continued protection of the park's high-elevation forests and suggested that the lizard could serve as a flagship species for regional conservation. They also recommended further field surveys and population studies to establish its full distribution, population size and conservation requirements.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Trivalairat, Poramad; Trivalairat, Krittiya; Moungkhaek, Nawee; Caponov, Simon; Lorsunyaluck, Benchapol (2026). "Acanthosaura syrax sp. nov., a new species of mountain horned dragon from high-elevation habitats of western Thailand (Squamata, Agamidae)". ZooKeys (1287): 47–76. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1287.186636. PMC 13451926 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 42571307 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Scott, Anastasia (10 August 2026). "Newly Discovered Lizard Named After a House of the Dragon Character Could Become a Symbol of Its Region". Discover. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "This tiny Thai lizard shares its name with a 'House of the Dragon' beast". Mongabay. 21 August 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "New Lizard Species Named After Scaly 'House of the Dragon' Character". People. 12 August 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ Pensoft Editorial Team (10 August 2026). "New Mountain Dragon Lizard From Thailand Named After Syrax From House of the Dragon". Pensoft Blog. Pensoft Publishers. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
External links
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