‘Bent’-toed creature with ‘well-developed’ claws discovered as new species
As night settled across a nature reserve in Thailand, a “slender” creature with “bent” toes emerged from its hiding place and climbed up a tree trunk. Its “large” brown eyes scanned the surrounding forest, but it wasn’t the only one looking around.
Visiting scientists noticed the patterned animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve several times between 2013 and 2017 to survey its wildlife, according to a study published July 29 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
During the field work, the team found dozens of banded lizards on the trees and ground, the study said. Initially, the lizards seemed to match a known species but, when researchers took a closer look at the animals and analyzed their DNA, they realized they’d discovered a new species: Cyrtodactylus sakaeratensis, or the Sakaerat bent-toed gecko.
Sakaerat bent-toed geckos have “slender” bodies reaching about 7.5 inches in length, the study said. Their heads are “moderately wide” with “elongate” snouts and “large,” “slightly” protruding brown eyes. Their arms are “slender,” their legs are “more robust” and their fingers and toes have “well-developed” claws.
Photos show the “light brown” coloring of the new species. The geckos’ eyes are rimmed by yellow scales. Bumps dot their body, and their backs display several “dark-brown” bands “bordered by yellowish margins,” researchers said.
Sakaerat bent-toed geckos are nocturnal forest-dwellers, the study said. At night, the geckos were spotted on tree trunks, thin branches, twigs, logs and the ground. During the day, the geckos were “inactive, slow-moving or asleep on tree holes, soil holes or termite mounds.”
“When disturbed, the geckos retreated into preexisting holes in the ground,” researchers said.
Researchers said they named the new species after Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place it has been found. The reserve is “a critical conservation area that serves as a sanctuary for the rich biodiversity of northeastern Thailand,” the study said, and is a roughly 150-mile drive northeast from Bangkok.
The new species was identified by its scale pattern, coloring, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 6% genetic divergence from related species.
The research team included Natee Ampai, Anchalee Aowphol, Siriporn Yodthong, Korkhwan Termprayoon, L. Lee Grismer and Attapol Rujirawan.
This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM with the headline "‘Bent’-toed creature with ‘well-developed’ claws discovered as new species."
