We just found a new species of agamid lizard in Thailand, and we named it Acanthosaura syrax after the dragon Syrax in the fantasy series House of the Dragon.
This is one of the smallest species in the genus Acanthosaura and has a smaller crest than other members. It is found only in a narrow strip of high-elevation forest at 1300 meters above sea level in Mae Wong National Park, Tak-Kamphaeng Phet Province.
Naming it Syrax after the popular TV series House of the Dragon is expected to draw attention to the need to preserve its very small natural habitat. If the narrow band of forest where it lives disappears, this newly discovered species will be in danger of extinction.
The name Syrax was also inspired by the fact that this new lizard lays many eggs, like a fantasy dragon, despite its small body size; as seen in the image above, it also has a similar yellow coloration.