Scientists capture rare mountain creature — then learn it’s something else entirely
In the Himalayan mountains of India, a “large” clawed creature perched on a tree branch. Visiting scientists spotted the rare animal and captured it — only to realize it was something else entirely.
Researchers visited the mountain forests of Arunachal Pradesh in 2021 as part of an ongoing reptile survey, according to a study published May 30 in the peer-reviewed journal Taprobanica.
During the visit, researchers found a 13-inch-long lizard, the study said. At first, they identified the scaly green animal as a known species of “rare” mountain lizard.
But when researchers analyzed the lizard’s DNA, they were surprised to learn that it didn’t match the DNA of the known species, the study said. Intrigued, they searched archive records and tracked down a second matching lizard.
Taking a closer look at the two animals, researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Japalura mictophola, or the mixed-scales mountain lizard.
The mixed-scales mountain lizard is considered “large-sized,” reaching about 13 inches in length, researchers said. It has a “slender” body with “relatively slender” limbs and “strong” claws. Its eyes are “large,” and its snout is “moderately long.”
Several photos show the greenish-yellow coloring of the mixed-scales mountain lizard. A row of spiky scales run along the lizard’s spine. Dark brown patches are scattered across its body. Its mostly brown tail blends into the tree, a photo shows.
Other photos show the brighter green and darker brown variations of the new species’ coloring.
Mixed-scales mountain lizards live in forests at elevations of over 7,600 feet, the study said. Very little is known about the “cryptic” new species.
Researchers said the named the new species “mictophola” after the Greek words for mixed, or “micto,” and scales, or “phola,” because of its varied scales.
The new species is rare and “not common anywhere,” the study’s lead co-author Zeeshan Mirza told McClatchy News via email. “Only a few individuals of the new species have been found.”
So far, mixed-scales mountain lizards have only been found in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, the study said.
Arunachal Pradesh is a disputed region in the Himalayan mountains along the India-China border. Although India controls the region, both India and China claim it. The region is about 1,300 miles east of New Delhi and about 3,200 miles southwest of Shanghai.
The new species was identified by its scale pattern and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 14% genetic divergence from other related mountain lizards.
The research team included Zeeshan Mirza, Gaurang Gowande, Tejas Thackeray, Harshal Bhosale, Mandar Sawant, Pushkar Phansalkar and Harshil Patel.
This story was originally published June 3, 2024 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Scientists capture rare mountain creature — then learn it’s something else entirely."
