A newly discovered lizard species in western Thailand has been named Acanthosaura syrax, after Syrax, the dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon. The discovery was detailed in a study published on July 31 in the journal ZooKeys.
The species belongs to the mountain horned dragon group and has so far been found only in the high-altitude forests of Mae Wong. Researchers suggested the common name “Syrax mountain horned dragon.”
According to the study, the name was inspired by the lizard’s yellowish colour, relatively small size compared with related species and high clutch size — traits the researchers associated with Syrax, the mustard-coloured dragon in the series. Syrax is also depicted as the mother of several younger dragons.
Mountain horned dragons are known for the prominent spiny crests running along their necks and backs. With the discovery of A. syrax, the number of recognised Acanthosaura species has risen to 23.
The newly identified lizard has so far been found only in the high-altitude forests of Mae Wong, where the difficult terrain has resulted in fragmented habitats.
Researchers have called for greater protection of the region and suggested that A. syrax could serve as a flagship species to attract greater scientific and public attention to conservation efforts.
The study also recommended further surveys of nearby mountain ranges to determine the species’ full distribution and investigate other potentially undiscovered biodiversity in Thailand’s northern and western highlands.
The House of the Dragon-inspired name was announced shortly before the third season of the HBO series concluded on August 9.
