‘Long’-armed creature with row of ‘dagger-like’ spines discovered as new species
As the shadows deepened in a forest of central Vietnam, a “long”-limbed creature with “dagger-like” spines on its back settled onto a thin tree branch and fell asleep. But its night wouldn’t be restful.
Passing scientists spotted the “cryptic” creature — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited a forest of Dak Lak Province several times in 2023 and 2024 to survey its biodiversity, according to a study published Aug. 28 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
During the nighttime searches, researchers found several vaguely familiar-looking lizards on branches and shrubs, the study said. At first, they thought the animals were a known species, but DNA analysis and “detailed” physical examinations revealed something different.
Researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Acanthosaura grismeri, or Grismer’s pricklenape lizard.
Grismer’s pricklenape lizards are considered “moderately sized,” reaching about 10 inches in length, the study said. Their heads are “triangular” with “large” eyes and a “light orange” tongue. Their limbs and tail are “relatively long.”
A row of spines runs down their backs, including some “elongated, dagger-like scales.”
Males and females of the new species vary in coloring and size, researchers said.
Male Grismer’s pricklenape lizards are “light-lime green with four brownish black rhomboidal bands” on their backs and white elbow and knee patches, according to the study and a photo. Their eyes are “dark brown,” and their throats are “pearl white.”
Female Grismer’s pricklenape lizards are “significantly larger” in size and “predominantly dark brown with scattered black or green mottling,” researchers said. Their eyes are “light orange,” and their throats are “light brown” to “dark orange.”
Grismer’s pricklenape lizards were found “clinging to, and sleeping in shrubs or on thin trunks of small trees beneath dense forest canopy” at night, the study said. The lizards were “frequently encountered” during the rainy season but “rarely observed” in the dry season.
Researchers said they named the new species after L. Lee Grismer “in recognition of his great contributions to herpetological research in Southeast Asia.”
So far, Grismer’s pricklenape lizards have only been found in one forest of Dak Lak Province, a region of central Vietnam and a roughly 220-mile drive northeast from Ho Chi Minh City.
The new species was identified by its body proportions, spines, scale pattern, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 7% genetic divergence from other lizard species.
The research team included Linh Tu Hoang Le, Tao Thien Nguyen, Truong Quang Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler, Dang Trong Do and Hai Ngoc Ngo.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 12:59 PM with the headline "‘Long’-armed creature with row of ‘dagger-like’ spines discovered as new species."
