‘Sharp’-clawed creature found hibernating on Vietnam peak. It’s a new species
As temperatures dropped on a mountain in northern Vietnam, a “slender” creature with “sharp” claws burrowed into the soil and “coiled into a tight ball.” The outside world slowly faded.
Visiting scientists later uncovered the hibernating animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers hiked up the mountains of Hà Giang province several times in 2023 and 2024 to survey wildlife, according to a study published May 16 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
During their treks, researchers encountered some abundant yet unfamiliar-looking lizards under logs, on trails, in the forest and near agricultural areas, the study said. Intrigued, they caught several lizards and, after taking a closer look, realized they’d discovered a new species: Scincella alia, or the Tay Con Linh ground skink.
Tay Con Linh ground skinks are considered “medium-sized,” reaching over 5 inches in length, the study said. They have “slender” bodies, “robust” heads and “relatively short and stout” limbs. Their fingers and toes are “moderately long” with “sharp” claws. Their eyes are “deep-brown” with a “golden rim.”
Photos show the “grayish brown” coloring of the new species. Seen from above, its scales are “glossy” with a thick copper-brown stripe down its back and darker brown stripes down its sides. Seen from below, its stomach is “lemon yellow,” researchers said.
Tay Con Linh ground skinks were found between elevations of 6,100 and 7,800 feet, the study said.
At lower elevations and during warmer weather, the skinks were found “under large logs” on “trails and livestock grazing grounds,” under “cement bags” “along roadsides within agricultural settlements,” and on plots of land “cleared for Chinese cardamom plantations.”
At higher elevations and during colder weather, the skinks were less active and “hibernating burrowed in soil coiled into a tight ball,” the study said. The skinks “remained inactive for an extended period after being uncovered.”
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word for “different one.” Its common name refers to the Tay Con Linh Mountain where it was first discovered.
So far, the new species has been found on mountains in two neighboring districts of Hà Giang province, a region of northern Vietnam along the border with China, the study said. Researchers expect the new species to have a wider distribution.
The new species was identified by its body size, limb length, coloring, scale pattern and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 3% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Andrey Bragin, Evgeniy Zenin, Cuong Hung Dang, Tu Vu Anh Dinh, Tan Van Nguyen and Nikolay Poyarkov.
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 3:40 PM with the headline "‘Sharp’-clawed creature found hibernating on Vietnam peak. It’s a new species."
