Researchers in China have identified a previously unknown species of mountain lizard living in the upper Dadu River Valley, deep within the Hengduan Mountains of Sichuan Province.
Years of Field Surveys Lead to a Surprise
Starting in 2018, the research team carried out extensive field surveys in the upper reaches of the Dadu River. During their expeditions, they came across a population of lizards that displayed unusual traits not seen in other known Diploderma species from the area. Detailed genetic testing and morphological comparisons confirmed their suspicions: this was a species that had never been documented before.
The scientists named it Diploderma bifluviale, a nod to its discovery site near the meeting point of two rivers, Chuosijia and Jiaomuzu.
With this finding, Diploderma bifluviale becomes the 47th recognized species of Diploderma in China. Members of this genus are found throughout East Asia and the northern Indochinese Peninsula, where they occupy a wide variety of mountain habitats.
A Unique Lizard With Distinctive Traits
Measuring about 6-7 centimeters in body length, D. bifluviale stands out with its distinctive coloring and a wheat-colored tongue — features that set it apart from closely related species. It thrives in semi-arid shrublands and rocky, sun-exposed valleys at elevations between 2,100 and 2,500 meters. The environment it inhabits is characterized by small-leaved shrubs and scattered stones, creating the perfect camouflage for this elusive reptile.
“This discovery highlights the understudied biodiversity of the upper Dadu River,” the researchers wrote in their report, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. Their finding underscores how even in well-surveyed regions of China, nature continues to reveal new surprises.
