Overview
- Researchers published the formal species description in the open‑access journal ZooKeys on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.
- DNA from two mitochondrial genes (ND2 and COI) shows pairwise differences of 14–28 percent from close relatives, supporting recognition of Acanthosaura syrax as a separate lineage.
- Field work found the lizard only in a narrow band of evergreen forest above about 1,300 meters in Mae Wong National Park, with naturally fragmented populations that increase its vulnerability to habitat loss.
- The team named the species after the fictional dragon Syrax because the lizard shares yellowish‑green tones, small body size for the genus, and unusually large egg clutches, a choice that has raised public attention to the discovery.
- The discovery raises the Acanthosaura genus to 23 species and the authors urge using Syrax as a local flagship to strengthen protection for Mae Wong’s high‑altitude wildlife, which also supports species such as the Asian forest tortoise and the Indochinese tiger.