Spiky forest creature — ‘a miniature dragon’ — found in China. It’s a new species
In a forest of southern China, a spiky creature with a pale belly climbed into a rocky crack and settled in for the night. Or at least, it tried to.
Passing scientists spotted the “miniature dragon” — and discovered a new species.
Researchers hiked into the forests of Yunnan Province several times in 2023 to survey wildlife, according to a study published July 24 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. They were looking for amphibians and reptiles.
During the visits, researchers found a pair of spiky brown lizards, the study said. They took a closer look and realized they’d discovered a new species: Tropidophorus vongx, or the dragon water skink.
Dragon water skinks are considered “large,” reaching about 8.6 inches in length, the study said. They have “triangular” heads “distinctively swollen at (the) jaw,” a “spiky appearance” and pale bellies.
Researchers said the new species “resembles a miniature dragon.”
Male and female dragon water skinks vary in coloring. A photo shows the female lizard’s relatively uniform dark brown body. Seen from below, the skink has a pale creamy brown stomach.
Males, however, have a more brightly patterned coloring. A photo shows the male’s brown body scattered with almost pumpkin orange blotches. Its stomach has more of a “light orange yellow” hue.
Dragon water skinks live in rocky forests at elevations of about 2,600 feet, the study said. Like other water skinks, the new species is probably semi-aquatic. One skink was found “anchored” in a rocky crevice near a stream while the other was found on the ground.
Researchers said they named the new species “vongx” after the Miao people’s word for dragon because of its appearance and because “the dragon is an important mythological figure in local Miao culture.”
So far, dragon water skinks have only been found in Yunnan Province, the study said. This province is in southern China and borders Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Researchers believe the new species “very likely” lives in neighboring regions of Vietnam, but they don’t know for sure.
The new species was identified by size, body shape, coloring, texture and scale arrangement, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 4% genetic divergence from other related skink species.
The research team included Kai Wang, Ling Li, Hao-Nan Mu, Sheng-Jing Xu and Jing Che.
This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Spiky forest creature — ‘a miniature dragon’ — found in China. It’s a new species."
