New Horned Lizard Species Discovered in Thailand’s High‑Elevation Forests

Scientists have identified a new species of horned lizard, Acanthosaura syrax, in Mae Wong National Park’s upper highlands of western Thailand. The tiny, yellow‑hued lizard, named after the dragon from the fantasy series House of the Dragon, was found only above 1,300 m (≈4,300 ft). Researchers captured the slow‑moving reptiles by hand, photographed them, and then euthanized them for taxonomic study, with specimens stored at Thailand’s Natural History Museum. The discovery, led by Krittiya Trivalairat of Mahidol University, underscores the rich yet still largely undocumented biodiversity of Thailand’s evergreen forests and highlights the importance of protecting these high‑elevation habitats.