‘Slender’ creature with ‘leaf-like’ toes found in Thailand park. It’s a new species
In a national park of northern Thailand, a “slender” creature climbed up a rock using its “leaf-like” toes to grip the sandstone surface. Its coloring helped it blend in with the surroundings, but not well enough.
Visiting scientists spotted the animal — and discovered a new species.
Researchers hiked into the rocky forests of Khon Kaen Province several times over the past 25 years to survey wildlife, according to a study published Feb. 11 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
During their visits, the team noticed some vaguely familiar lizards on the rocks and caught a few, the study said. At first glance, the lizards seemed “superficially” similar to a known species of gecko, but later DNA tests and detailed analyses gave a different result.
Researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Dixonius hinchangsi, or the Hin Chang Si leaf-toed gecko.
Hin Chang Si leaf-toed geckos have “slender” bodies, reaching just under 4 inches in length, the study said. Their heads are “relatively long” with wavy, vertical pupils and striped lips. Their limbs are “short” with “leaf-like” pads on their toes.
Photos show the “dull” coloring of the new species. One bumpy-looking gecko has a gray-brown hue with spots of yellow down its sides and along its mouth. Its tail is partially regenerated, and its eyes are gold.
Another gecko appears to have a darker, more reddish-brown hue. Its body has some orange spots and its lips bear a zigzag-shaped stripe.
Hin Chang Si leaf-toed geckos live on sandstone rocks and were found along a road and in a national park, the study said.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Hin Chang Si sandstone formation, or “elephant-rubbing rock,” in Nam Phong National Park because the geckos were “common” there.
So far, the Hin Chang Si leaf-toed geckos have only been found at two nearby sites in Khon Kaen Province of northeastern Thailand, the study said.
The new species was identified by its size, scale pattern, coloring, spikes, glands and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found it had at least 7% genetic divergence from other related gecko species.
The research team included Olivier Pauwels, Sunandan Das, Kirati Kunya, Montri Sumontha, Nattasuda Donbundit, Thomas Pauwels, Gontran Sonet, Jonathan Brecko and Worawitoo Meesook.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM with the headline "‘Slender’ creature with ‘leaf-like’ toes found in Thailand park. It’s a new species."
